MIPCOM: The head of Discovery Networks International (DNI) has insisted the company’s aggressive push into the OTT space in Europe will not put it at odds with distributors of its linear channels.

Speaking in a keynote address at Mipcom in Cannes yesterday, DNI president JB Perrette said the company anticipated having one million subscribers signed up for its Nordic OTT platform D-Play and revamped Eurosport Player by 2017.

However, he denied the OTT growth would set the company against its distribution partners that offer their own OTT services.

“That multi model of pay TV, free-to-air and OTT is a compelling one for years to come,” Perrette said. “The evolution of percentages of where that business shifts is going to develop but we like the three businesses.

“We make a lot of our offerings available to our distribution partners such as Eurosport 360. We’re never going to be in a position where we’re disadvantaging our affiliates.

“We, like our affiliates, see the world evolving into a multi-screen world and we’re all trying to figure out how to give consumers what they want. On pure value, the channel bundle is still the most cost-efficient way to get the breadth of content we offer – we’re not putting that at risk and we’re not making a package of channels available OTT. Our strategy is for the super fans to provide extra content.

“We’re primarily commissioning still for television. Are we commissioning for the online platforms? Not today, although in sports we are picking up rights that will only be available on the player. That will evolve, but you have to pace it.”

Perrette said Discovery’s headline-grabbing deal to seal live rights to the Olympic Games across Europe was attractive because the 10-year contract means the company can build up brands and channels around the Olympics story.

“With some sports rights you pay a lot for them and then you’re back at the table again in three years’ time,” he added.

^[1]The session was also used to introduce Marjorie Kaplan in her new role as DNI president of content – but there was no mention of creative director Phil Craig, whose abrupt departure ^[2] after just eight months in the role was announced at the start of the week.