Israel’s second largest mobile operator Partner Communications says it has registered 5,000 customers for its TV service within two days of its launch, and is now embarking on registering 5,000 more.
The IPTV service Partner TV will compete against pay-TV market leaders Yes and HOT and Cellcom TV, which introduced its Internet-based service two years ago.Partner TV will provide 40 channels, including sports, children’s shows, natural history, news and all of the Israeli channels. Its service will operate on an open Android TV box and subscribers will be able to add content, games and music applications directly from Google Play.
Partner TV programmes will also be available live or on-demand on any smart TV, tablet or smartphone.
“It’s really a television solution that is available all the time, in any place and for any kind of watching,” said Itzik Benvenisti, CEO, Partner.
Netflix will also be available through Partner’s set-top box ¬- the first such partnership for the US streaming giant in Israel.
Partner TV is priced at NIS 89 (US$25) a month with Netflix and NIS 69 ($20) without. Also included are recordings, video-on-demand (VOD) and catch-up on up to five screens for a single subscription (television, smartphone, or tablet).
“In the United States we are we seeing similar narrow bundles and skinny bundle services and we think Israeli is going to adopt it very quickly,” said Adam Chesnoff, chairman, Partner. Installation for the pre-registered customers will begin towards the end of July.
