Another day, another streaming service: Time Inc. unveils People/EW OTT
NEW YORK -- Time Inc. became the latest content publisher to launch it's own OTT service.
At its packed NewFront presentation on Thursday, the company unveiled plans for the People/Entertainment Weekly Network, an ad-supported streaming video service from two of its top brands.
Launching this fall, the network will offer more than 100 hours of original programming, including original, long-form celebrity, pop culture, lifestyle and human interest series, specials and live event coverage.
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The service will draw from already existing franchises such as: People’s Sexiest Man Alive, Heroes Among Us, World’s Most Beautiful, Half Their Size, EW’s Fall TV Preview, Must List, Reunions, Bullseye and People en Español’s Mas Bellos. In addition, People/EW will feature "extensive coverage of awards shows, festivals and premieres."
“The People/Entertainment Weekly Network will distinguish itself by being the first free-to-consumer, advertiser-supported OTT service in the entertainment news category, creating original programming specifically designed for the lean-back, long-form environment,” said Rich Battista, President of the Time Inc. Entertainment and Sports Group and Video.
The streaming-service space is quickly turning into a hogpile. Need proof? Here are the other OTTs that have recently been announced or launched:
Fullscreen: Announced last year, launched in April
Amazon's standalone video service (separate from Prime): Announced and launched in April
Fandango: The company's first-ever premium on-demand video service announced and launched in March
Lionsgate and Kevin Hart's "LOL": Announced in March, coming later this year
ComicCon and Lionsgate's service: Announced last year, launching just in time for the annual San Diego event in July
Defy Media's ScreenJunkies Plus: Announced in November 2015, launched in January 2016
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Saba was a Los Angeles-based reporter who covers all things digital entertainment, including YouTube, streaming services and digital influencers. Prior to that, she spent two years at the Los Angeles Times covering entertainment for the Calendar and Company Town sections. Saba grew up in Santa Monica and graduated from Boston University with a B.S. in journalism and B.A. in political science. When not reporting, she is usually binge watching shows online or looking for new coffee shops to frequent.
