Spain’s prominent public broadcaster Radio Televisión Española (RTVE) is set to launch RTVE Play+, its international video-on-demand OTT platform, in Asia and Oceania this Tuesday, Oct. 22.
The announcement comes at a fortuitous time, given a recent glowing report from Spanish trade and investment body ICEX and entertainment analytics org, Parrot Analytics.
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The report, unveiled at Mipcom on Oct. 21, singled out Asia and Oceania as the regions with the highest and fastest growing demand for Spain-originated content. Demand in Asia was at 100% while Oceania was at a whopping 175%. Per the report, Spain ranks fourth among the top five markets for global revenue generated from non-English content, positioning itself as the leading European and Spanish-speaking content market.
Data presented by ICEX and Parrot Analytics at the annual confab in Cannes revealed that Spain-originated content has generated an estimated $5.1 billion in global streaming revenue over the past four years. RTVE Play+ can expect to tap into this exponential demand for Spanish content.
Already available in the Americas and Europe, RTVE Play+ will now expand its reach to Japan, India, Hong Kong, South Korea and Australia.
The platform, which offers a premium selection of RTVE’s best audiovisual content, is a key part of RTVE’s internationalization strategy, backed by the public broadcaster’s long-standing reputation for high-quality content production.
RTVE also indicated that it aims to use the platform as a launchpad to promote Spain’s thriving audiovisual industry on a global scale.
As noted during its initial launch, RTVE Play+ represents a significant step in RTVE’s strategy to broaden the global reach of its best programming, surpassing geographic boundaries and leveraging cutting-edge technology.
The platform offers an array of premium content ranging from series and films to documentaries, news and entertainment, as well as live channels.
New shows presented at RTVE’s fifth annual showcase last May in Madrid are likely to stream on RTVE Play+. Among standouts that have are “La Ley del Mar,” starring Luis Tosar and based on a true story whereby a pair of fishermen come across a boat bearing 50 migrants who have been adrift for days.
Then there is “Detective Touré,” the first Spanish series to feature a Black lead, co-produced by RTVE, Detective Touré AIE, Tornasol Media, DeAPlaneta and EITB.
RTVE also unveiled its first co-production with Serbia, based on a book, “Scars,” co-produced with Spain’s Plano a Plano and Dopamine.
Its latest non-fiction title “Comerse el Mundo,” co-produced with Onza TV, features Valladolid-based chef Javier Peña as he traverses the globe, savoring local delicacies. Each episode is capped with a brief cooking lesson.
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