SPI takes FightBox online

Polish broadcaster and distributor SPI International is launching an online pay-per-view (PPV) service for its martial arts coverage, as well as ramping up its 4K factual output and picking up a package of feature films.

SPI’s martial arts-focused FightBox channel has launched an online PPV service for its live events coverage.

MMA and kickboxing events from its FightBox HD channel are now available to watch live and as catch-up via a dedicated PPV website.

Registered users who have purchased an event get free access to additional VoD content of more than 200 videos covering disciplines aired by the channel, including MMA, boxing, Karate, Muay Thai, Japanese wrestling, Taekwondo, Wushu and Sumo.

FightBox is available worldwide via PCs, tablets and smartphones.

SPI International is also amassing a 4K stock – currently around 200 hours – for its VoD platform FilmBox Live and a new linear 4K FunBox UHD channel, which is now in development.

“4K content is one of our highest priorities for future development,” said Berk Uziyel, executive director of FilmBox International.

So far, the company has launched Kino LG 4K in Poland, a pilot project using compression technology to deliver ultra HD-quality streaming to users with regular residential internet connections.

SPI has also begun producing native 4K content with live recordings of MMA events and is exploring other areas for ultra HD productions, including entertainment and music.

Separately, SPI has licensed a movie package from NBCUniversal, giving it more than 100 first-run films for its FilmBox Premium channel in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. First-run titles in the deal include 47 Ronin, All Is Lost, Fast and Furious 6, Despicable Me 2, Identity Thief and Oblivion. The agreement also includes library titles such as Apollo 13, Notting Hill, Liar Liar and Shakespeare in Love.

SPI currently operates more than 30 FilmBox-branded TV channels in four continents and counts around 25 million subscribers.