Telegraaf and Talpa prep OTT channels

Dutch publisher and media group Telegraaf Media Groep and ITV-owned producer and distributor Talpa have confirmed plans to launch two OTT channels this year.

Mandy van der Wal, director of OTT at TMG and a former Talpa exec, spoke about the new channels at an industry event in the Netherlands.

TMG is sinking €27 million (US$30.1 million) into a joint venture with Talpa, and the pair will roll out a sports and a financial news service this year.

A TMG spokesman confirmed the news, noting that the cooperation between Talpa and TMG had already been announced.

TMG would not comment on where content for the new services will be sourced from, or the exact branding they will carry. These details are expected to become clear this summer.

The OTT move positions TMG and Talpa as rivals to traditional and pay TV players in the Netherlands. Talpa already has a foothold in linear TV, while TMG is best known as the publisher of De Telegraaf newspaper.