Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Nov 5, 2014 1:50:52 GMT -6
www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/new-australian-svod-service-launch-746543
The new service named Stan will launch ahead of the expected launch of Netflix Down Under in March or April
Nine Entertainment Co, the parent company of Australia’s Nine television network, on Wednesday announced details of its joint venture svod service, Stream Co, which will launch down under in the coming months under the brand name, Stan.
At the same time Stream Co - the joint venture between Nine and publishers Fairfax Media - unveiled comedian Rebel Wilson as the face of the new brand and said it has secured exclusive rights to Breaking Bad spin off Better Call Saul, as part of its line up of first run content.
StreamCo CEO Mike Sneesby said Stan will be a “game changer for entertainment in Australia”.
Stan will launch Better Call Saul in February under an exclusive new run of series deal with distributor Sony Entertainment Television. It also gets exclusive Australian svod access to all five seasons of Breaking Bad under the multi year deal – although the critically acclaimed series, which received six Emmy awards this year for its ground breaking final season, has been widely available on pay TV service Foxtel, existing Australian streaming services and on the Australian Broadcasting Corp.'s iView catch up TV service. The iconic close up of Breaking Bad character Walter White features from today on stan.com.au.
Details of Stan’s programming line up will be rolled out in the coming weeks, but the offering will be broad with “thousands of hours of entertainment on Stan, with first-run exclusives, award-winning TV shows, classic catalogue, blockbuster movies and an exciting slate of kids content".
Sneesby told THR Stan was chosen as it fit the brand values of simplicity to buy and use; entertaining “and transparent in pricing
“Its something that will resonate with a broad spread o demographics. Its not a common name in today’s vernacular but its uniquely Australian and international," Sneesby said.
No launch date or price point for Stan been formally announced but its widely expected to cost around $8.70 (AUS$10) a month for a subscription, while industry buzz has the service switching on in the Christmas period. That would give it a 3-4 month leg up on competitor Netflix, which will launch its Australian specific service in March or April, according to TV industry sources. Netflix is yet to make a formal announcement of its plans fro this market.
Rebel Wilson will feature in Stan’s marketing campaign as the ‘face” of Stan and is is the perfect fit for everything Stan represents: “international star power, hugely entertaining, yet so down-to-earth,” Sneesby added.
Sneesby said StreamCo’s research indicated 1.5 million households of Australia's 8.5 million TV households were willing to pay for an SVOD service. Penetration of svod services is expected to get up to 40 percent within four years – a similar rate to growth of the sector in the U.S. Fairfax and Nine announced the joint venture in August with each partner contributing up to $50 million as part of a multi-year agreement.
Of the acquisition of Better Call Saul, Nick Forward, content and product director of StreamCo, said: “We are delighted to have secured exclusive rights to 2015’s most anticipated new show. We’re huge fans of Breaking Bad and can’t wait to see where Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould take some of these amazing characters next".
Mark Young, senior vice president, distribution sales, Australia & New Zealand for Sony Pictures Television, added: “Premium content continues to be a key driver to digital platforms, so our landmark drama Breaking Bad is a natural fit for Stan. Digitally connected audiences are sure to love Better Call Saul just as much.”
The new service named Stan will launch ahead of the expected launch of Netflix Down Under in March or April
Nine Entertainment Co, the parent company of Australia’s Nine television network, on Wednesday announced details of its joint venture svod service, Stream Co, which will launch down under in the coming months under the brand name, Stan.
At the same time Stream Co - the joint venture between Nine and publishers Fairfax Media - unveiled comedian Rebel Wilson as the face of the new brand and said it has secured exclusive rights to Breaking Bad spin off Better Call Saul, as part of its line up of first run content.
StreamCo CEO Mike Sneesby said Stan will be a “game changer for entertainment in Australia”.
Stan will launch Better Call Saul in February under an exclusive new run of series deal with distributor Sony Entertainment Television. It also gets exclusive Australian svod access to all five seasons of Breaking Bad under the multi year deal – although the critically acclaimed series, which received six Emmy awards this year for its ground breaking final season, has been widely available on pay TV service Foxtel, existing Australian streaming services and on the Australian Broadcasting Corp.'s iView catch up TV service. The iconic close up of Breaking Bad character Walter White features from today on stan.com.au.
Details of Stan’s programming line up will be rolled out in the coming weeks, but the offering will be broad with “thousands of hours of entertainment on Stan, with first-run exclusives, award-winning TV shows, classic catalogue, blockbuster movies and an exciting slate of kids content".
Sneesby told THR Stan was chosen as it fit the brand values of simplicity to buy and use; entertaining “and transparent in pricing
“Its something that will resonate with a broad spread o demographics. Its not a common name in today’s vernacular but its uniquely Australian and international," Sneesby said.
No launch date or price point for Stan been formally announced but its widely expected to cost around $8.70 (AUS$10) a month for a subscription, while industry buzz has the service switching on in the Christmas period. That would give it a 3-4 month leg up on competitor Netflix, which will launch its Australian specific service in March or April, according to TV industry sources. Netflix is yet to make a formal announcement of its plans fro this market.
Rebel Wilson will feature in Stan’s marketing campaign as the ‘face” of Stan and is is the perfect fit for everything Stan represents: “international star power, hugely entertaining, yet so down-to-earth,” Sneesby added.
Sneesby said StreamCo’s research indicated 1.5 million households of Australia's 8.5 million TV households were willing to pay for an SVOD service. Penetration of svod services is expected to get up to 40 percent within four years – a similar rate to growth of the sector in the U.S. Fairfax and Nine announced the joint venture in August with each partner contributing up to $50 million as part of a multi-year agreement.
Of the acquisition of Better Call Saul, Nick Forward, content and product director of StreamCo, said: “We are delighted to have secured exclusive rights to 2015’s most anticipated new show. We’re huge fans of Breaking Bad and can’t wait to see where Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould take some of these amazing characters next".
Mark Young, senior vice president, distribution sales, Australia & New Zealand for Sony Pictures Television, added: “Premium content continues to be a key driver to digital platforms, so our landmark drama Breaking Bad is a natural fit for Stan. Digitally connected audiences are sure to love Better Call Saul just as much.”