Mediaset Premium Explained

Mediaset Premium
Type:Pay TV
Language:Italian
Founder:Mediaset
Editor:Mediaset Premium S.p.A.
Products:TV programs
Parent:Mediaset
Commercial:Yes

Mediaset Premium was an Italian pay TV provider owned by Mediaset. Until closure in 2019, it provided subscription TV channels and pay-per-view events (only for football matches) via the Italian digital terrestrial television network through the use of a smart card as well as video-on-demand services through its "Premium Play" and "Premium Online" streaming service.

History

Mediaset Premium was launched on January 20, 2005, initially offering only pay-per-view services for movies and sports.

In January 2008, it became a full pay-TV, launching the package "Premium Gallery", available, with a package for football matches, through monthly subscription or prepaid. Over time, new packages and new channels enrich the offered.

In 2015, the new offering provides channels of movies, TV series, sport, documentaries, cartoons and interactive services Premium Play and Premium Online. From 2016, Premium will also broadcast on satellite TV. In October 2016, Disney Junior and Disney Channel ceased broadcasting, only remaining available on Sky.

Broadcast until 2018 the UEFA Champions League exclusive in Italy on channels Premium Sports and Premium Calcio also in HD. It also owns the sports rights, in addition to the Serie A, of foreign tournaments as the Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France, the Scottish Premiership, also of the NFL of American football. There are also channels Eurosport and Eurosport 2.

On 1 June 2018, also Cartoon Network, Mediaset Premium's last kids' channel, ceased broadcasting, only remaining available on Sky Italia

In 2016 Vivendi agreed to buy 100% stake of Mediaset Premium and 3.5% stake of Mediaset by selling 3.5% stake of Vivendi's shares.[1] However, after inspecting the financial statements as well as income forecast, Vivendi did not wish to enforce the original terms but submitting a revised offer to buy 20% stake in Mediaset Premium, as well as buying convertible bonds of Mediaset Premium.[2] Fininvest, the majority owner of Mediaset, had chosen to start legal action to Vivendi.[3]

The service was closed down in June 2019.

Channels

The offer was divided into packages, available in prepaid or through monthly subscriptions.

PackageChannel numberChannelDescription
300Premium Menuservice
301Premium Playservice
311, 456Sky Unoentertainment
312, 457Sky AtlanticTV series
313, 458FoxTV series
314, 459National Geographicdocumentaries
468Sky Sport Unosports
469Sky Sport 24sports news
470Sky Sport Uno HDsports (HDTV)
316, 460Premium ActionTV series
317, 461Premium CrimeTV series
318, 462Premium JoiTV series
319, 463Premium StoriesTV series
320Investigation Discoverydocumentaries
330, 464 Premium Cinemablockbuster movies
331, 465Premium Cinema Energyaction/crime movies
332, 466Premium Cinema Emotiondrama movies
333, 467Premium Cinema Comedycomedy movies
334Studio Universalclassic/noir movies
Sports & Football372 Eurosportsports 24h
373Eurosport 2 sports 24h
399Premium Onlineservice

Premium Play

Premium Play was a streaming service on PC, iPad, Android, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and Samsung Smart TV, Windows for subscription customers in conjunction with the TV packages.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Vivendi forms a strategic and industrial partnership with Mediaset. 8 April 2016. 6 September 2016. Vivendi.
  2. Web site: Vivendi and Mediaset: structure of the offer. 26 July 2016. 6 September 2016. Vivendi.
  3. Web site: Fininvest claims 570 million euros damages from Vivendi. 23 August 2016. 6 September 2016. Fininvest. https://web.archive.org/web/20160924132511/http://www.fininvest.it/assets/press/en/CS%20ENG%20Fininvest_Vivendi_23.8.16.pdf. 24 September 2016. live.