Platform updates

The event "Case studies - Platform updates" brought together major players in streaming and digital publishing to discuss strategic launches and developments. The discussion focused on the creation of the Sooner platform, resulting from the merger of UniversCiné and FilmoTV, with the participation of Estelle Bringer (Deputy Director, Meilleur du Cinéma) and Romain Dubois (Marketing and Editorial Director, UniversCiné). It also covered the 10th anniversary of La Cinetek, attended by Alexandre Blain (Director of Digital Development and Editorial, LaCinetek), and the launch of AlloCiné Classiques, presented by Adrien Chabal (General Manager, AlloCiné). All discussions were moderated by Florian Krieg (Editor-in-Chief, Le Film français).

1. Sooner: Merger of UniversCiné and FilmoTV

The new platform Sooner is the result of the merger of the UniversCiné and FilmoTV services, aiming to consolidate their strengths in the face of a difficult market and competition from American and free platforms.

• Complementarity of Services:

  • UniversCiné was very strong in transactional (VOD/EST) with a very rich catalog (over 15,000 titles).

  • FilmoTV was more focused on subscription (SVOD) with a hyper-distribution model.

  • The union capitalizes on nearly 30 years of experience in independent and heritage cinema.

• DNA and Commitment:

  • Desire to remain an independent platform with total editorial freedom.

  • Shareholding mainly composed of independent French and European distributors and producers (52 in total).

  • Strong commitment to the promotion of heritage cinema and editorial support (themes, cycles, content production).

• Ambition and New Features:

  • To be the reference platform for cinema by reaffirming its commitment against the disengagement of certain players.

  • Expansion of the audience beyond the cinephile sphere.

  • Integration of TV series (20 to 25% of the total volume) to capitalize on a younger audience and retain subscribers (agreements with BBC, ZDF, Movistar, European series unpublished in France).

  • Acquisition of exclusives (films unreleased in theaters, about 30 per year) to position itself upstream in the film value chain and as a "scout" or "discoverer."

• Offer and Distribution (Launch: early 2026):

  • Attractive price: €6.99/month or €4.99/month with annual commitment. Student offer at €4.99.

  • Rapid deployment on all distribution platforms (web, mobile, connected TVs, operators - SFR, Free, Bouygues, Orange, aggregators - Amazon Prime, Molotov, YouTube).

  • International development: Consolidation in France first, then rapid expansion to the Benelux from 2026 through the integration of a local structure.

2. La Cinetek Celebrates 10 Years!

La Cinetek, an independent streaming platform created in 2015 by filmmakers (Pascal Ferran, Cédric Klapisch, Laurent Cantet), celebrates its 10th anniversary and emphasizes its unique curation model and its role as a guardian of heritage cinema.

• Proven Model:

  • Catalog built from lists of 50 favorite films selected by an invited filmmaker each month (over 145 contributing filmmakers).

  • Strong emphasis on cinephile recommendation as a driver for discovery.

• Editorialization and Content:

  • Each film is accompanied by editorial texts, interviews, and internally produced bonuses.

  • A major focus on contextualizing sensitive films (referred to as "dated").

  • Use of social media codes to reach a younger audience.

• Offer and Accessibility:

  • The subscription offer, launched in 2018 and expanded in 2023, features around 120 films permanently (thematic selections, retrospectives).

  • Pricing: €4.99/month or €49/year. Offer for those under 25 at €19/year (focus on transmission).

  • Available on all screens (web, apps, Smart TVs) and through distribution channels (Amazon Prime, Orange).

• Events and International Presence:

  • Launch of the first La Cinetek Festival from November 14 to 16 (screenings, cine-concert, round tables).

  • Already present in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, and Austria.

3. Launch of AlloCiné Classiques 

AlloCiné launches AlloCiné Classiques, a new label and editorial brand dedicated to essential films, building on public enthusiasm, especially among young people, for cinematic references.

• Concept and Objective:

  • Creation of an ultimate list of classic films (between 1,000 and 2,000 titles) to serve as a "gateway" and guide.

  • To provide benchmarks and support the public's passion for great cinematic references.

  • Promoting the unifying role of classics.

• Selection Criteria:

  • Combination of objectivity (press and spectator ratings, audience figures for AlloCiné movie pages) and cinephile authority (top 100/1000 lists).

  • Desire to bring together films that achieved both critical success and popular success.

• Deployment:

  • Functions as a label on AlloCiné movie pages.

  • Editorial brand on the website, apps, newsletters, and social networks (creating content and videos adapted for its 19 million followers).

  • Organization of events and screenings (e.g., AlloCiné Classiques sessions).

• Image Education Challenge:

  • One of the goals is to encourage the discovery and critical reading of works.

  • Necessity to contextualize classics to make them accessible to the current audience.