Two new on-demand services are coming to the UK. The CBS AMC UK Channels Partnership – the joint venture between AMC Networks International and CBS Studios International that is behind such channels as CBS Drama and CBS Action – has announced that they are launching VOD services Horror Bites and CBS Catchup Channels UK next month.
Both services will be available on Freeview Play from December 6th and will offer catch up shows thirty days after broadcast. Horror Bites will provide said content from Horror Channel; while CBS Catchup Channels UK will provide content from CBS Reality, CBS Drama and CBS Action. Viewers will also be able to access exclusive on-demand content, in the form of box sets and CBS Reality Original content such as “Donal MacIntyre’s Murder Files”, “Murder by the Sea” and “Written in Blood”.
Additionally, CBS Action will be re-branding on the day before the VOD launch to become known as CBS Justice. The channel carries a wealth on U.S. acquisitions including: Walker, Texas Ranger; Diagnosis Murder, Scorpion, The District, NCIS, JAG, NCIS: Los Angeles, Bonanza, CSI: Miami and Mission: Impossible.
“As the way we watch TV changes, it’s important to offer our popular programming to audiences anytime and anywhere, so this expansion onto Freeview Play is a natural next step for us,” said Tanya Gugenheim, Senior Vice-President of Business Development for AMC Networks International. “Partnering with Freeview Play means that the Horror Bites and the CBS Catchup Channels UK apps will be available on most smart TVs. We have been ably supported by Simplestream who built an end-to-end service complete with all key Freeview Play functionalities, integrated backwards EPG and intuitive user experience, which we look forward to sharing with our viewers.”
“We’re committed to evolving and improving Freeview Play, so to be announcing the launch of not one, but two new catch up players is really something to shout about”, commented Simon Hunt, Strategy Director for Freeview Play. “As the platform continues to grow and become the new normal, we hope that the CBS AMC UK Channels Partnership, along with our other partners continue to reap the rewards of its success with audiences across the country.”
While Dan Finch, Chief Commercial Officer for Simplestream added: “Watching TV has become increasingly personal, with more power shifting to consumers to curate their own individual viewing experiences. Horror Bites and CBS Catchup Channels UK are colourful additions to the UK’s on-demand landscape and it has been a real pleasure to support their launch.”
