Andriy Malchevskyi, Director of the Distribution and Network Development Department at 1+1 media group, toldUFabout cooperation with UPL TV.
- On 23 February, the spring round of the UPL starts. Andrii Oleksandrovych, what matches will 1+1 production produce?
- We do not produce matches. The creative part of the production is entirely the responsibility of the UPL. In turn, UPL TV works with various contractors who help them create content for the channel. 1+1 media distribution is only responsible for technical distribution among providers to maximise the coverage of the matches. I hope that this will be a product that will be in demand.
- How many teams are currently in the UPL TV pool?
- 13 clubs have given up their rights to broadcast the UPL.
- Dynamo, Dnipro-1 and Zorya still have a contract with 1+1 media. Will they be broadcast on UPL TV?
- Yes, they have a valid contract with 1+1 media. Time will tell what will happen next. Right now, our priority is to create a quality product. Football has a huge impact among fans - it is a socio-political sport. Therefore, even in such difficult times, fans need to see football. We hope that our teams will show a good game that will interest the fans, and they will be waiting for the UPL round every Sunday.
- If Dynamo, Dnipro-1 and Zorya want to terminate their contract with 1+1 media ahead of schedule to join the UPL TV, will you mind?
- No. For business, as well as for fans, the priority is a single product. But we don't know what kind of relationship and negotiations the clubs have with the UPL.
- Do you already have the scope of broadcasts for this season?
- These are all the matches of 13 clubs until the end of the championship. So do the maths. We have time to fill the channel with content that will be interesting for the fans before the new season.
- On which platforms will UPL matches be available to watch?
- We are currently negotiating with all key providers. We have already reached agreements with Kyivstar TV, Datagroup-Volia, and Viasat. We also sent an offer to Megogo, SWEET.TV, Triolan, and they are also interested.
In addition, we have agreements with regional cable providers. Nowadays, it is important for everyone to unite so that the championship can go ahead and be watched by as many fans as possible. The main task of 1+1 media is to achieve maximum coverage.
- And Setanta?
- We have already held two rounds of negotiations with Setanta. They promised to give an answer by the end of the week. I think Setanta will also broadcast UPL matches in its app. Setanta, Megogo and other OTT platforms have a significant advantage over other providers.
- What do you mean?
- UPL TV is a linear channel with a broadcast grid. For example, if after an air raid there is an overlay on another match that is next on the schedule, linear TV will broadcast the other match. And the fan will no longer be able to see the match that was postponed. And OTT platforms have the technical ability to show these matches live, they have additional streaming services to provide parallel broadcasts. Only OTT platforms can provide this service to their subscribers.
- Will OTT platforms have a separate subscription for UPL matches?
- It will not be a separate football package for which you will have to pay extra. UPL TV will be broadcast as part of the basic package to ensure maximum coverage.
"Dynamo, Dnipro-1 and Zorya are also in the most affordable, basic package, and other UPL clubs will also be there. Therefore, there are 13 clubs in the UPL TV de jure, and 16 de facto. We can say that a single TV pool has already been created.
- Which channels of the 1+1 media holding will broadcast UPL matches?
- The basic channels are 2+2 and UNIAN. They will broadcast home matches of Dynamo, Dnipro-1 and Zorya. We are just starting to make the product and our main task is to prepare for the start of the next season.
- So your channels will broadcast only those clubs with which you have a contract, and for all the others you are only engaged in distribution?
- Yes. Home matches of 13 other clubs will be broadcast on UPL TV.
- What studios, programmes and experts are planned for UPL matches?
- This issue is not our responsibility, but that of the UPL. They choose commentators, experts and journalists.
- Will Tsyganik and Zverov be involved from your channel?
- As I said above, this is the UPL's competence. Therefore, we will find out all the details when the championship starts. The UPL team is working to bring together the best experts and commentators. Whether Tsyhanyk and Zverov will be involved is a question for UPL TV, not 1+1 media. UPL TV is the content right holder, and we help them: we provide our platforms, conduct expertise, shoot broadcasts, etc. However, quality pictures need to be accompanied by quality football. The symbiosis of these two factors will restore the popularity of Ukrainian football among fans.
During this time, Dynamo, Dnipro-1 and Zorya will see what the feedback from the audience is, the UPL will negotiate with them and, perhaps, they will also give up their broadcasting rights. Then it will be a real single TV pool.
- Viktor Vatsko said that Vitaliy Volochay, Vladyslav Shalota, Roman Bebekh, Mykhailo Spivakovsky, Andriy Stolyarchuk and Maksym Gilenko will become commentators on UPL TV. Is it true?
- We have nothing to do with it. The UPL will determine the staff of commentators. According to the procedure, the 13 clubs of the TV pool must agree on commentators and presenters themselves.
- Will UPL matches be broadcast abroad?
- The UPL is working in this direction, working groups have been set up, but we have not yet been granted the rights to foreign distribution. We do not yet know who will be in charge of this: UPL, us, or they will find some other performer. We don't have much time and our main task is to make UPL TV available on Ukrainian pay-TV networks on 23 February.
- What is the cost of producing one match as a product?
- This question is not for us, but for the UPL, which is the customer. It is they who pay for the filming, commentators, studios, etc. Our task is to technologically distribute the finished product across the country, while other contractors form the product. We have no influence on the quality and content of the content.
- How did the symbiosis between 1+1 media and UPL TV come about? Did you offer your services to the Premier League or did they contact you?
- 1+1 media has been operating in the Ukrainian pay-TV market for a long time and is a trendsetter in this area. We are the largest distributor in Ukraine, with a portfolio of about 30 TV channels, including the American content producer Paramount Global and UP Hub. We are the exclusive distributor of the Ukrainian studio FILM.UA and their channels and company. We also have joint projects, such as Comedy Central and KVARTAL TV.
We have been distributing this content for many years, so we were approached by the UPL for expertise. We were offered to make our vision and proposal. We took part in the tender and won. The main contribution to our victory was that we have extensive experience in launching TV channels.
We have a technology department with the appropriate equipment that is involved in filming, which filmed the Champions League and the Europa League. It has a team of professionals who will be filming UPL matches. And the programme grid and content is the work of the UPL. As far as I know, UPL TV will show archive matches of Ukrainian clubs, journalism, etc.
- That is, the matches will be filmed by 1+1 media.
- De jure, yes, but we are just contractors.
- Will the picture be better than before on the "plus" channels?
- Now everyone has switched to HD quality, so the picture quality will be as dynamic as possible. Technologically, everything will be at the highest level.
Andriy Piskun