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Molotov thrown into France

Molotov, a new OTT service from one of the founders of French pay TV service Canal+, has launched in France today.

Molotov’s founders, including Canal+ co-founder Pierre Lescure, say they want to “reinvent the daily pleasure of watching television” with the service.

It offers an alternative way of distributing shows and channels and allows users to see what’s airing on all channels at a glance.

The user chooses the programme they want to watch, either live or via catch-up, while alerts can be received when a personality of interest to the viewer is due to appear on TV.

Details first emerged last year and the service underwent a beta testing period last summer.

More features, including what the founders call a “deep social experience, smarter notifications and alerts,” will be announced and introduced in the coming months.

Backed by European private equity firm Idinvest Partners, the free service is available on smartphones, tablets, Apple TV, connected TVs and via desktop computers.

It offers 33 free channels including TF1, France 2, France 3, France 4, France 5, M6, Arte, Gulli and D8, while more can be added from €3.99 (US$4.40) per month.

A full selection of 70 HD channels is available for €9.99 per month including RTL9, BET, Paramount Channel, Disney Channel, Boomerang, Trace Urban and CNN.

Other senior figures from the French TV industry involved in Molotov include former TF1 exec Jean-Marc Denoual and Jean David Blanc, creator of online cinema platform AlloCiné.

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