HBO launches in Portugal as SVOD offering

HBO has launched in Portugal via SVOD offering.

The Game of Thrones cabler is now available via standalone website, and accessible through a range of smartphones, tablets and devices, including Android, Chromecast and Apple TV. It is also available to Vodafone Portugal customers via TV Vodafone.

The service costs €4.99 ($5.60) per month following a free one-month trial. The sub enables users to register five different devices and watch two simultaneous streams of dubbed and subtitled content at the same time from the same account.

HBO Portugal has around 4,500 episodes of content including every series of originals such as Game of Thrones, True Detective, Westworld and Big Little Lies (pictured), as well as series from other content providers, such as Patrick Melrose (Sky/Showtime), A Discovery of Witches (Sky/ Sundance TV) and Killing Eve (BBC America/ AMC).

The service also offers a variety of films, docs and kids and family content. HBO Portugal’s offering will include titles that premiere simultaneously with the US.

HBO Europe greenlights Spanish original

Elsewhere, HBO Europe has greenlit a new series by celebrated Spanish filmmaker Álex de la Iglesia, whose directing credits include the award-winning Balada Triste de Trompeta (The Last Circus) as well as Perfectos desconocidos (Perfect Strangers) and El bar (The Bar).

Produced by Pokeepsie Films, eight-part horror series 30 Coins is commissioned out of HBO España, and will be written by De la Iglesia and long-time writing partner Jorge Guerricaechevarría.

30 Coins tells the story of Father Vergara, an exorcist, boxer and ex-convict, who is exiled by the church to a remote town in Spain. However, when he is linked to a series of mysterious paranormal events, villagers attempt to uncover the secrets of his past, and the significance of the ancient silver coin he keeps hidden.

The series will shoot later this year. It will premiere day-and-date across HBO Europe territories.

Executive producers for HBO Europe are Miguel Salvat, Steve Matthews and Antony Root.

HBO Europe currently has several projects in production across its growing European footprint: Patria in Spain, Gösta and Beartown in Sweden, Beforeigners in Norway, The Sleepers in the Czech Republic, Umbre in Romania and Wataha in Poland.

De la Iglesia says: “30 Coins is the project I’ve been dreaming about all my life. It’s a series that dives into pure horror combining thriller, action and mystery, with a plot that starts in a remote village in Spain and spreads over the world. It’s a naked look into the truest form of genre aimed at entertaining and wrecking fans’ sleep. Weird creatures, cursed cults and unspeakable secrets will emerge from the cracks of a reality that can only inspire mistrust in those who dare to explore it. An exhilarating experience for those who want to have fun while getting their horror fix.”

Miguel Salvat, commissioning editor of original programming for HBO España, added: “Only Álex, with his own voice and universe, can carry out a project of this narrative and visual ambition. It has been a fruitful and exciting development process with Álex and Jorge. We are sure that 30 Coins will fit perfectly into a brand that already has a huge legacy.”

Antony Root, EVP of programming and production for HBO Europe, added: “Álex creates worlds that are immediately immersive, full of idiosyncratic characters, darkness, humour and fun.  We’re incredibly excited and proud to have him join the HBO Europe family – and to add such a brilliant and uniquely-imagined genre series to our growing and varied originals slate.”