Viacom Strikes Distribution Deals for Play Mobile Streaming Apps, Hits 15M Downloads Worldwide
With 20 major pay TV partners covering more than 40 countries globally, Viacom’s mobile streaming platform has served more than 200M long-form episodes since launch
London/New York(21 Oct 2016)
Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) has announced distribution deals with international pay television partners for its mobile video streaming service, Viacom Play Plex.
VIMN has struck a deal with Virgin Media in the UK to make three of its mobile Play apps – MTV Play, Nickelodeon Play and Comedy Central Play – available on an authenticated basis to its customers, offering them on-demand and on-the-go access via smartphone or tablet to the best long and short-form content from these brands. The deal with Virgin will also be extended to include Nick Jr. Play once it launches in 2017.
In addition, MTV Play, Comedy Central Play and Nick Jr. Play will also launch to Singtel’s mobile subscribers in Singapore, as part of an agreement that included the launch of Nickelodeon Play in the third quarter of this year.
VIMN has now signed partnerships for its mobile streaming service and other multi-platform products with 20 pay TV providers internationally, having launched its first Play app in the last quarter of 2015.
Viacom’s Play mobile apps have collectively been downloaded more than 15 million times by consumers in more than 40 countries. With more than 30 million long-form episode streams being viewed each month and growing – and almost half a billion stream starts since launch – Viacom’s Play apps continue to engage users everywhere they are today.
Speaking at Apps World London today, Dan Reich, SVP, Multiplatform Product Strategy and Development, VIMN, said: “Our Play apps make our content available when and where our fans want it, extending the reach of that content and leading to more viewing. They are creating significant value for our fans and for our distribution partners as well as maintaining our brands’ relevance and keeping Viacom at the leading edge of evolving consumer demand.”
Viacom’s Play Plex streaming platform supports a mobile app for each of its core international brands, featuring video-on-demand (VOD) access to current and library content, as well as short-form clips, games and a live linear feed. Available both in the Apple App store for iOS and on Google Play for Android, the Play apps allow consumers to access their favorite content anytime, anywhere.
The Play Plex apps feature an intuitive, video-focused user interface and enhanced video player, which reduces loading and buffering times. Currently, the Play apps support Apple’s AirPlay and will soon be rolling out support for additional over-the-top streaming devices such as Google’s Chromecast.
Additional branded apps – including Nick Jr. Play and Spike Play – will roll out internationally in 2017.
In addition, VIMN has also launched its first-ever direct-to-consumer subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) application for the adult audience, BET Play, and a pre-school mobile streaming app, Noggin, which is also available across Latin America and has been downloaded almost 1 million times to date.
About Viacom International Media Networks
Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN), a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), is comprised of many of the world’s most popular multimedia entertainment brands, including MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount Channel, Channel 5 in the UK, VH1, VIVA, COLORS, Spike, Game One and Tr3s: MTV, Música y Más. Viacom brands reach more than 3.7 billion cumulative subscribers in 180+ countries and territories via more than 200 locally programmed and operated TV channels and more than 550 digital media and mobile TV properties, in 40 languages. Keep up with VIMN news by visiting the VIMN PR Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/VIMN_PR.