The iconic Whisky a Go Go nightclub, a cornerstone to Hollywood’s famed Sunset Strip and the music industry, announces the launch of its new streaming TV channel on Roku and Connected Television. The self-named, “Whisky a Go Go” channel opens the club’s doors to a worldwide audience to experience the magic of live performances at one of rock-and-roll’s most legendary — and notorious — venues. The channel will serve as an archive of past and present musical performances spanning the club’s 52-year history, and, like the club itself, as a showcase for who- and what’s hot, including up-and-coming artists and those returning to the stage. The world famous Whisky a Go Go is the first music venue to launch its own channel on a Connected TV platform.
Whisky a Go Go opened on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood in 1964 and has since played host to a virtual Who’s Who in Rock-and-Roll?,serving as the launchpad for some of the most popular bands over the last 50 years including The Doors, The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Steppenwolf, Van Halen, Guns N’ Roses and Mötley Crüe. “The Whisky” as it’s often called, has been featured in countless TV shows, movies and books and is catalyst to some of the greatest legends and lore in rock-and-roll history. Fifty-two years later, it continues to churn out great bands, great music and great stories. Established performers regard playing The Whisky as a true sign of “arrival” as an artist. In 2006, the Whisky a Go Go was the first-ever live music venue inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
It’s the essence of all of this the Whisky a Go Go hopes to capture in its new TV channel:
Roku is the leading Connected TV device platform with more than 20 million registered viewers in the U.S. alone and millions more worldwide. Connected Television is the fastest-growing segment of the in-home entertainment industry. According to a recent report by eMarketer, Connected TV now outpaces both cable- and broadcast television combined, with more than 160 million viewers in 2016. Continued growth is expected as more and more viewers turn to time-shifted viewing via apps like Netflix and Hulu, and devices like Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV to enjoy their favorite entertainment, on their own time, and on the biggest screen in the house.
The Whisky a Go Go channel is launched in partnership with Mediarazzi, a leading producer of TV channels for Roku and Connected TV platforms. Mediarazzi has partnered with major brands and celebrities to develop and launch more than 50 popular Connected TV channels, including channels for boxing legend Oscar de la Hoya and celebrity chef Paula Deen. In 2014, Mediarazzi founder/CEO Phil Autelitano came to the rescue of Deen and quickly returned her to television after she lost her Food Network show amid a scandal,.
The Whisky a Go Go channel is currently available on Roku and will launch on subsequent platforms including Amazon Fire TV and Opera Software-based TV systems (to include Sony and Samsung TVs and Blu-Ray players, LG TVs, Tivo and more) in the weeks to come. The channel is free on all platforms and available to a global audience, though pay-per-view streaming concerts may be available on some platforms in the future.