SPI International has signed a deal with UPC DTH in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary to provide customers of the UPC Direct and freeSAT services with a new online service, FilmBox Live.

FilmBox Live will now be a part of the FilmBox Pack on both platforms, and will allow FilmBox Pack subscribers to watch live-streaming channels and enjoy the FilmBox VOD library with unlimited access to the Filmbox Live multiscreen on-demand service.
In addition to Hollywood blockbusters, award-winning films and TV series, FilmBox Live features documentaries, sports programming as well as fashion and music videos. Among the newly acquired series included in the FilmBox Live library are BBC’s six-part adaptation of Tolstoy’s War and Peace, as well as BBC’s Wolf Hall, a historical drama chronicling the rise of Thomas Cromwell. FilmBox Live will also present 13 episodes of Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands, the British epic fantasy drama television series.

The service gives access to a number of live channels including FilmBox movie channels as well as international thematic channels: FightBox HD for martial arts lovers, DocuBox HD, the documentary channel, Fast&FunBox HD, which is dedicated to extreme/adventure sports, FashionBox HD, FilmBox Art House and music service 360TuneBox.

FilmBox Live VoD service will also be available to other UPC DTH/freeSAT customers who will benefit from a free one-month trial thanks to their new subscription. The service will be launched on UPC platforms in Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia on November 23.

“The growth in FilmBox Pack subscribers has been in double digits over the past year. We are very excited to extend our existing FilmBox Pack on UPC Direct and freeSAT. This full viewing experience will be all-inclusive, ad-free, premium TV and multiscreen entertainment. It will allow subscribers to enjoy an extensive library of top quality and diverse programming content anywhere they want – with a single subscription,” said Berk Uziyel, executive director for SPI International/Filmbox Channels Group.

“FilmBox Live is now one of the leading VOD platforms in the region featuring not only movies on-demand but also non-stop, unlimited access to several live-streaming channels.”

Jim Helfgott, the outgoing VP of marketing and sales for UPC DTH, said: “We are pleased to extend our offer with the online experience of FilmBox Live to UPC Direct customers in Hungary and freeSAT customers in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. This will further enhance our multiscreen services providing our customers with more movies and thematic content.”