Discovery, Inc. and Cyfrowy Polsat have signed a joint venture agreement to create a video streaming platform which will operate in Poland and international markets.

The new OTT service will give viewers a single destination to access the best of Polish content including movies, series, documentaries, sports and entertainment. The new service will include local productions supplied by TVN and Polsat, acquired content and new series commissioned specifically for the new entity. The new platform will offer a different proposition to global OTT services and will be differentiated by more local characters and stories.

“This new venture fits squarely into our international strategy and belief that local broadcasters need to better satisfy consumer demand by aggregating their offerings and developing a strong local-content-led streaming service – just as we did in Germany with Joyn,” said Kasia Kieli, President & CEO Discovery EMEA.

“Polish audiences will have a dizzying number of streaming options for international content, but this will undoubtedly be the home of the best Polish productions,” she added.

“We are glad to be co-creating a project which is likely to become a real alternative to international OTTs. Our ambition is for the platform to offer the best and most advanced technological solutions. It is especially important that this project has the capability to bring Polish content to international viewers, too” – Maciej Stec, Deputy President for Strategy at Cyfrowy Polsat and Polkomtel, the Plus network’s operator said.

The platform will be an independent business entity with its own resources and management board. Due to its scale, the new platform will create new opportunities for Polish content partners as well as for advertisers. The new platform will welcome partners wishing to supply content to the new service. After obtaining regulatory clearance, the joint venture will launch as an AVOD service but the partners look forward to developing the new service, including the eventual rollout of an SVOD component.

The Player.pl (owned by TVN Discovery Polska) and Ipla.tv (owned by Cyfrowy Polsat) digital platforms will continue to be available to viewers. Decisions on their future shape and role will be decided in due course.