CBC News Sets Fall Strategy To Better Serve Audiences On Television And Digital Platforms, Including The Launch Of A Free Streaming Channel

ADRIENNE ARSENAULT NAMED CHIEF CORRESPONDENT OF CBC NEWS AND WILL ANCHOR THE NATIONAL MONDAY TO THURSDAY 

ANDREW CHANG TO HOST NEW DAILY SHOW ON 24/7 FREE STREAMING NEWS CHANNEL, LAUNCHING THIS FALL

IAN HANOMANSING WILL HELM NEW WEEKLY INTERVIEW SERIES ON THE NATIONAL AND CONTINUE TO HOST FRIDAY AND SUNDAY, AND SERVE AS PERMANENT HOST OF CROSS COUNTRY CHECKUP

June 30, 2022 — CBC News today announced a new strategic approach to better serve audiences across Canada on both television and digital platforms through an enhanced news offering in the year ahead, including the launch of a free streaming channel.

“The world of news media, TV and video journalism is changing rapidly. Yet the demand for trusted, quality journalism is unchanged. To reach audiences in new ways, we are making a strategic push into the world of streaming news with the launch of a FAST channel, while continuing to broaden and deepen the storytelling on our flagship program, The National,” said Susan Marjetti, General Manager of News, Current Affairs & Local, CBC.

 

“As audience behaviour continues to shift and new platforms emerge, Adrienne, Andrew and Ian are helping us meet these exciting challenges head-on, each by taking on more responsibility so we can better serve Canadians with more original journalism wherever audiences want us,” said Brodie Fenlon, Editor in Chief, CBC News.

This fall, CBC News will launch a free 24/7 ad-supported streaming (FAST) news channel for streaming, digital and connected TV platforms, offering the best of CBC local, national and current affairs journalism. As it has throughout the pandemic and during every major news event, CBC News Network continues to serve as Canada’s live and breaking subscription news channel offered on cable, satellite and CBC Gem.

CBC News’ trusted and award-winning flagship television program The National will also serve as a core pillar of the new streaming channel, with acclaimed journalist Adrienne Arsenault named Chief Correspondent for CBC News. Adrienne will anchor The National Monday to Thursday, starting this fall.

 

“Adrienne’s many years in the field and her rich journalism experience make her uniquely positioned to take viewers of The National to the biggest stories shaping our world. Adrienne’s signature ‘take-me-there’  approach to storytelling and news writing resonates strongly with digital, on-demand audiences looking for quality current affairs and long-form content. Expect to see more of her on-the-ground reporting and anchoring from the field as Adrienne steps fully into the role of chief correspondent in the fall,” said Fenlon. 

 

Meanwhile, Andrew Chang will play a central role on the new streaming channel, hosting a new daily show that will be the centrepiece of each weekday. The program will also be available on CBC Gem, CBCNews.ca, the CBC News app and YouTube. Chang will step away from The National in August to begin development on the program.

“Andrew’s new show, targeted at a new streaming audience, will capitalize on his strong news judgement and innate ability to engage people of all ages,” added Fenlon.

Ian Hanomansing has been named the new permanent host of Cross Country Checkup on CBC Radio and CBC News Network, and he will continue to host The National on Friday and Sunday. He will also host a new weekly interview series on The National in the fall, building on his growing and deepening connection with Canadians across the country and on all platforms. 

 

About CBC/Radio-Canada

CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.

 

For more information, contact:

Frances Bedford, CBC PR

frances.bedford@cbc.ca

416-205-7673

Scream! Factory TV, Available In Canada, To Stream “Summer of Fear” Special Event Throughout July and August

Beat the heat and pull up a lounge chair for Scream! Factory TV's “Summer of Fear” featuring a summer-themed slate of double features every Saturday from July 2nd

Original Post by Georges Brunet for @StreamOnABudget

Scream Factory TV, Shout! Factory TV’s newest free 24/7 channel that features cult classic horror, sci-fi and thrillers curated for fright fans, will be kicking off Summer 2022 with their “Summer of Fear” special event.

"Ah, Summer, you heavenly bringer of fun family and new friendships formed that will last a lifetime. As your glorious warmth and-- AAAAH!-- what the [BLEEP] is that?!!"

Scream! Factory TV presents Summer of Fear! Forget the air conditioning. Our frightening Double Feature Saturdays will leave you chilled to the bone! Drown in Fear all Summer long... if you dare! [Evil laugh]

Promo:

Here is the line-up of double features for the “Summer of Fear” event…

July 2nd: Alligator | Alligator 2

July 9th: Mermaid: Lake of the Dead | Creature From the Haunted Sea

July 16th: Sleepaway Camp | Camp Cold Brook

July 23rd: Sharktopus vs. Pteracuda | Sharktopus vs. Whalewolf

July 30th: Attack of the Crab Monsters | The Horror of Party Beach

August 6th: Piranha (1978) | Killer Fish

August 13th: Elvira’s Movie Macabre: Attack of the Giant Leeches | Elvira’s Movie Macabre: Tormented

August 20th: Encore Presentation of Alligator & Alligator 2

Uncensored versions of the features are expected stream on Scream! Factory TV, while the edited-for-broadcast versions play simultaneously on Shout! Factory TV.

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The Scream! Factory TV 24/7 live stream is available on Roku in the ad-supported Shout! Factory TV Roku channel (app), which also includes live streams of Shout! Factory TV, the new Shout! Cult channel, MST3K, TokuSHOUTsu, Johnny Carson TV, and The Carol Burnett Show. 

Shout! Factory TV Developed by: Shout Factory Shout! Factory TV is a premiere digital entertainment destination that brings you timeless and contemporary cult favorites for pop culture fans. With a uniquely curated entertainment library, the channel offers an unrivaled blend of cult TV shows, movies, comedy, original specials and more.

https://channelstore.roku.com/en-ca/details/fd9da348fafc4f64f19cad2a9dc2a328/shout-factory-tv

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Shout! Factory TV is available on a wide range of devices, including Amazon FireTV, Amazon Firestick Lite, and more. Looking for the latest generation of Amazon Fire TV Edition TVs and devices, shop Amazon today and help support @StreamOnABudget! Canada: Amazon.ca | USA: Amazon.com

Shout! Factory TV is available on most major streaming devices in Canada.

🍁 Search your streaming devices for "Shout Factory TV" to install the app today.

Shout! Factory TV is available for Roku. Looking for the latest generation of Roku TVs and devices? Shop Amazon today and help support @StreamOnABudget! Canada: 'Roku' on Amazon.ca | USA: 'Roku' on Amazon.com

RiverTV Gives Top Choice for Canadian Cord-Cutters, Now Offers 30-Day Free Trial

RiverTV has now increased their free trial window from 7-days to 30-days.

Original post for @StreamOnABudget by Georges Brunet

In the past, Canadians looking to get rid of the big cable TV bills from broadcast titans Rogers and Bell were hard-pressed to find a streaming alternative. These days, streaming live TV by becoming among the so-called "cord-cutters" has become a lot more accessible with services like RiverTV, Canada's first live TV and on-demand vBDU (virtual broadcasting distribution undertaking). River TV now tops over 45 channels including a slate of US streaming channels and thousands of hours of original programming.

At a very affordable CA$16.99/m, RiverTV's base package includes a great lineup of top Canadian channels and programming content from Global, CBC, CBC News Network, CHCH-TV, W Network, Showcase, Food, HGTV, Teletoon, Treehouse, HISTORY®, Adult Swim, Slice, YTV, MovieTime, Crime & Investigation, National Geographic, Silver Screen and many more. RiverTV also has curated a line-up of exclusive US streaming channels including Bloomberg Quicktakes, Cheddar, Law & Crime, Newsy and REVOLT. RiverTV also features many a la carte channels and add on packages, including Hollywood Suite, Super Channel, Nick+ and lots more.

RiverTV also features thousands of hours of 'on demand' content, for 'anytime' TV watching allowing viewers to catch up on episodes of their favourite shows, hit movies, and complete seasons of popular, 'must-see' series. One of the best features of RiverTV is their great Look Back option which allows viewers to go back in time on the on-screen guide up to 7 days (3 days or 1 day on most channels) and play an archived program. Sorry, you cannot fast forward the commercials on Look Back, but thankfully most ad-breaks on the on-demand episodes are quite bearable, mostly network ads averaging 1-2 minutes long.

RiverTV's latest social media campaign is called, "RiverTV vs Cable":

• With cable TV, you need a cable box. You can watch TV on a single TV, connected to this device.
• RiverTV also allows you to stream on up to 3 streaming devices simultaneously, which is equivalent to the leading US-based streaming services.

RiverTV-supported devices include:

1. TV streaming & media players: Android TV, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV
2. Smart TVs powered by Roku (TCL, Sharp, HiSense, JVC), Amazon Fire TV (Insignia, Toshiba), and Android TV (Sony, Phillips, LG).
3. Mobile devices: iOS & Android
4. Web browsers: Chrome, Opera, Safari, Edge, Firefox, and more! Watch online at https://rivertv.ca

RiverTV is available on all major streaming devices Roku players, Roku TV™ models, Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Edition smart TV, Apple TV, iOS (mobile and tablet), Android (mobile and tablet) and Android TV devices (including NVIDIA SHIELD and Google Play-enabled TVs like Sony, Sharp, Philips and more), as well as through your PC's web-browser.

RiverTV has now increased their free trial window from 7-days to 30-days. Freedom from big cable TV and satellite TV bills is here! Start your 30-day free trial right now: https://rivertv.ca

Sources: https://rivertv.ca/about; RiverTV's Facebook and Twitter. 

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Check out River TV! 

CABLE-FREE LIVE TV! 45+ Channels - Watch Live TV & On Demand. 

Start Your Free 30 Day Trial right now at www.rivertv.ca/

Cancel Anytime. Exclusive U.S. channels. Thousands of Hours of Shows. 

RiverTV is available on a wide range of devices, including Amazon FireTV, Amazon Firestick Lite, and more. Canadian shoppers looking for the latest generation of Amazon Fire TV Edition TVs and devices, buy one today on Amazon.ca and help support @StreamOnABudget.

Canadian shoppers looking for the latest generation of Roku TVs and devices, buy one today on Amazon.ca and help support @StreamOnABudget.

DistroTV, Available in Canada, US and the UK, Adds 120 New Channels, Citing Impressive Channel Growth of 87% YoY, and Launches New Regional Channel Bundles to Continue Global Content Expansion as FAST Market Heats Up

Free-to-stream, ad-supported platform cements its spot as the nation’s largest independent FAST with recent channel growth expanding highly requested content to audiences globally

NEWS RELEASE BY DISTROTV

San Bruno, CA | June 21, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

DistroTV, the nation’s largest, independent, free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) platform, today announced it has added 120 new channels to expand its core content categories, across news, media & entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. This in addition to growing its multicultural content line-up, to include new channel offerings to cater to English, Southeast Asian / Indian, and Spanish-speaking audiences, as well as a new bundle of channel content targeting the African community.

This brings the DistroTV total channel library to more than 270, with DistroTV now available in more than 60 markets through its apps on streaming devices and smart TVs, as well as worldwide through distro.tv on the web. The company continues its rapid global expansion, empowering media companies to break down content barriers and bring diverse and independent content to our global viewers, wherever they may be watching, amidst an evolving free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) market. Through DistroTV’s easy-to-use interface, viewers can instantly watch their favorite channels and shows, with no registration, sign-up, or fees required.

“The FAST market is on an incredible and steep upward growth trajectory, with even paid streaming platforms now understanding that if they do not embrace and ride this wave, they’ll get left behind,” said Navdeep Saini, co-founder and CEO of DistroScale, parent company of DistroTV. “At DistroTV, we’ve long been on a mission to break down barriers to entry and provide free TV for global audiences who want and deserve access to free, engaging programming across a range of cultures and languages. If our growth figures are any indication, we’re well on our way to accomplishing our goals, and we have no plans of slowing down.”

Key highlights include:

• An impressive wave of new channels available to stream for free that appeal to DistroTV’s core US, UK, and Canadian audiences which includes a total of:
• 45 sports channels, doubling the initial channel count to include the most diverse collection of live & linear mainstream sports, combat sports, niche sports and outdoors channels, like beIN SPORTS Xtra, Swerve Sports, IMPACT Wrestling Channel, FightNetwork, ACL Cornhole, MotoAmerica TV and FuelTV.
• 13 documentary channels, with notable new additions including Goalcast, Beautiful Planet, and True History.
• Notable new additions to the entertainment & lifestyle category, including AXS TV Now, Heritage+, Planet Eat, and the return of Canadian foodie favorite, GustoTV.
• A total of 21 Spanish-language channels available in North America, such as Casa Comedy and Spanglish to the existing bundle of entertainment, documentaries, news and sports channels launched earlier this year, for a total of 25 Spanish-speaking channels globally. DistroTV Español is aimed at speakers in the U.S., as well as in Latin America and included the platform’s premiere of its first original movie, Escándalo Secreto: En Plena Cuarentena, which has seen impressive adoption across all LatAm audiences, both in the US and Latin American markets.
• The expansion of free-to-stream Indian channel content through DistroTV Desi; the bundle doubled since launch from 15 channels to 36 live streaming channels, featuring new additions such as ABP, Bollywood Prime, Epic, FOODFOOD by renowned chef Sanjeev Kapoor, Desi TV, and more. The addition of these channel bundles will bring even more viewing access and content options to a multicultural Spanish speaking and South East Asian audience;
• The release of a new African channel bundle, DistroTV Africa, featuring 11 entertainment and music-oriented channels available to stream for free globally and available in countries such as Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania, and in those countries’ native languages;

Since its launch in 2019, DistroTV has taken note and delivered on the demand for growth concerning its breadth of content and global audience. The streaming platform continues to focus on building a robust global network that delivers news, entertainment, music, sports, and lifestyle programming to international audiences. To become a part of this international audience, visit https://www.distro.tv or install DistroTV on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, iOS or Android.

About DistroTV
DistroTV is the largest, independent, free, ad-supported streaming television service on the market. Launched in 2019 by parent company DistroScale, the platform caters to a multicultural, rapidly expanding, globally-minded audience of passionate viewers. Satisfying the growing demand for premium video content in multiple languages, DistroTV delivers premium video content from producers globally across North America, the UK, Bollywood, Latin America, China, Southeast Asia, and growing. With more than 200 channels plus thousands of Video on Demand (VOD) shows, DistroTV cultivates content that covers a broad spectrum of topics to connect with people’s passion points around Entertainment, Lifestyle, Sports, News, Documentaries and International Content in live, linear and video-on-demand formats. DistroTV is available to stream for free on the web, as well as through Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and iOS and Android devices.

About DistroScale
DistroTV is the first direct-to-consumer offering from DistroScale, a technology company founded in 2013 and known for providing a global clientele of thousands of media properties with the industry’s most comprehensive video platform for web, apps, and streaming. DistroScale is an all-in-one solution providing infrastructure, content delivery, curation, analytics and a full suite of monetization options. Video enabled by DistroScale reaches more than 250 million visitors per month. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. To become a DistroTV viewer, visit www.distro.tv. More information on DistroScale & DistroTV is available at www.distroscale.com.

Contact Details
Mackenzie Gavel
+1 631-739-5716
mackenzie@kitehillpr.com

Company Website
https://www.distro.tv

Original Press Release: https://newsdirect.com/news/distrotv-adds-120-new-channels-citing-impressive-channel-growth-of-87-yoy-and-launches-new-regional-channel-bundles-to-continue-global-content-expansion-as-fast-market-heats-up-357227265

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DistroTV is available on a wide range of devices, including Amazon FireTV, Amazon Firestick Lite, and more. Canadian shoppers looking for the latest generation of Amazon Fire TV Edition TVs and devices, buy one today on Amazon.ca and help support @StreamOnABudget.

Distro TV is available on Roku (Search 'Distro TV' on your Roku TV or Roku device). 

Visit the official website help page for more info about compatible devices.

Canadian shoppers looking for the latest generation of Roku TVs and devices, buy one today on Amazon.ca and help support @StreamOnABudget.

Pluto TV To Launch With Corus In Canada This Fall

Platform Partnership Will Bring the Best Global and Local Content to One Free, Easy-to-Use Service

Corus to Act as Ad Representative in Canada and Provide Multiple Canadian Channels to the Service

To share this release socially use: https://bit.ly/3msZP0J

TORONTO, June 8, 2022 /CNW/ - Corus Entertainment Inc. (TSX: CJR.B) ("Corus") and Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARA) (NASDAQ: PARAA) ("Paramount") announced today that Pluto TV, the world's leading FAST (free ad-supported streaming television) service, will launch in Canada this fall.  Launching with more than 100 unique, curated channels and over 20,000 hours of content, the service will offer a full spectrum of free programming including drama, comedy, lifestyle, kids, movies, around-the-clock news, and more. This sees Corus' leading ad sales capabilities combined with Pluto TV's best-in-class platform and technology, serving compelling content to audiences and providing a transformative model for advertisers.

At launch, Corus will be the ad representative to what is positioned to become one of the largest free premium ad-supported streaming services in the country. In addition, Pluto TV will offer a curated slate of Corus Original library series that span a variety of genres.

"Corus' relationship with Pluto TV underlines our commitment to ad-supported premium video, building on the success of STACKTV, the Global TV App, and Premium Video on Demand," said Greg McLelland, EVP and Chief Revenue Officer, Corus Entertainment. "The agreement further expands the volume of digital video inventory Corus has to offer, in a premium, brand-safe environment allowing our clients to achieve the impact of TV with the measurement and targetability of digital and connect with audiences wherever they are streaming."

"Pluto TV is committed to further expanding its premium free offering for audiences around the world, and this game-changing partnership with Corus is a testament to that commitment. Following Pluto TV's  recent launch in the Nordics and the partnership we implemented with Viaplay, which served as the strategic framework for this deal, the upcoming launch in Canada will combine Corus' incredible local content offering with Pluto TV's global content and world class platform, positioning Pluto TV to become the leading free ad-supported streaming TV service in the country upon launch in the fall," said Olivier Jollet, Executive Vice President and International General Manager, Pluto TV.

Pluto TV is the global leader in FAST, with nearly 68 million monthly active users who have streamed over 4.8 billion total viewing hours across over 30 countries and territories spanning three continents. Pluto TV will be available for free, with no registration required. Users will be able to watch Pluto TV via Web at www.pluto.tv, via the Pluto TV app for Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Chromecast, Samsung and LG devices, and via mobile apps on the App Store and Google Play.   

About Corus Entertainment Inc.

Corus Entertainment Inc. (TSX: CJR.B) is a leading media and content company that develops and delivers high quality brands and content across platforms for audiences around the world.  Engaging audiences since 1999, the company's portfolio of multimedia offerings encompass 33 specialty television services, 39 radio stations, 15 conventional television stations, a suite of digital and streaming assets, animation software, technology and media services. Corus is an internationally-renowned content creator and distributor through Nelvana, a world class animation studio expert in all formats and Corus Studios, a globally recognized producer of hit scripted and unscripted content. The company also owns innovative full-service social digital agency so.da, lifestyle entertainment company Kin Canada, leading 2D animation software supplier Toon Boom and children's book publishing house, Kids Can Press. Corus' roster of premium brands includes Global Television, W Network, HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, Magnolia Network Canada, The HISTORY® Channel, Showcase, Adult Swim, National Geographic, Disney Channel Canada, YTV, Global News, Globalnews.ca, Q107, Country 105, and CFOX, along with broadly distributed Canadian streaming platforms STACKTV, Nick+, the Global TV App and Curiouscast. For more information visit www.corusent.com.

About Pluto TV

Pluto TV, a Paramount Company, is the leading free streaming television service delivering hundreds of live linear channels and thousands of titles on-demand to a global audience of nearly 68 million monthly active users. The Emmy ® award-winning service curates a diverse lineup of channels, in partnership with nearly 400 international media companies, offering a wide array of genres, languages and categories featuring movies, television series, sports, news, lifestyle, kids and much more. Pluto TV can be easily accessed and streamed across mobile, web and connected TV devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Pluto TV's growing international footprint extends across three continents and over 30 countries and territories.

PARA-IR

SOURCE Corus Entertainment Inc.

For further information: Ashley Applebaum, Head of Publicity, Corus Entertainment, 416.860.4217, ashley.applebaum@corusent.com; Ashley Priest, Sr. Director, International Communications, Pluto TV, 1.646.285.6081, ashley.priest@paramount.com

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Original Press Release: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/pluto-tv-to-launch-with-corus-in-canada-this-fall-800016309.html

This Press Release also appears at the following sources: 

• https://www.corusent.com/media-centre/press-releases/pluto-tv-to-launch-with-corus-in-canada-this-fall/
• https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/pluto-tv-launch-corus-canada-171500895.html

NBCUniversal’s Ad-Supported Xumo Streaming TV Service Launches in Canada

Several sources are reporting today that Xumo has officially launched in Canada in partnership with cable provider Rogers. Here's the run-down of the reports: 

(Image credit: Comcast)

Source: https://www.thestreamingadvisor.com/can-you-get-xumo-in-canada-yes-on-new-app-with-rogers/

Reported by: Ryan Downey of The Streaming Advisor:

XUMO, the ad-supported streaming TV company owned by Comcast, today announced it has launched a customized XUMO app on the Ignite Entertainment platform, available on both Rogers Ignite TV and Ignite SmartStream services. The launch marks the first international expansion for the XUMO app bringing it to one of Canada’s biggest providers. The app offers over 100 free, diverse channels, including live news, fan-favorite TV shows, sports, specialty lifestyle programming, tens of thousands of free movies, and more.

“The launch of the XUMO app on Rogers Ignite TV and Ignite SmartStream is an important milestone in our growing app portfolio,” noted Chris Hall, Senior Vice President, Product at XUMO. “Canadian viewers will now have access to even more free programming directly from Rogers, and it will be seamlessly integrated within the experience to make search and discovery easy.”

“We are committed to bringing together the best content available to deliver the ultimate entertainment experience for our customers,” said Myrianne Collin, Chief Marketing Officer, Rogers Communications. “With the integration of XUMO, we are expanding our content library and elevating Ignite TV and Ignite SmartStream as the destination of entertainment, giving more choice and unparalleled access to the most integrated free content of any other major provider in Canada.”

Highlights of the channels available within the app include Radio Canada, CBC News, XUMO Free Movies, ABC News Live, The Johnny Carson Show, Free Action Movies, America’s Test Kitchen, beIN Sports Xtra, batteryPop and more.

With the most integrated search and discovery across live TV, sports and the best streaming services, Rogers Ignite TV and Ignite SmartStream with the award-winning Voice Remote revolutionizes entertainment by creating a one-stop shop to access series, movies and more across genres and platforms. This innovation takes the XUMO viewing experience to the next level and gives customers more choice to discover new favourites. To get started, customers can say “XUMO” into the Voice Remote or through the app section.

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Source: https://www.mediaplaynews.com/nbcuniversals-ad-supported-xumo-streaming-tv-service-launches-in-canada/

Reported by: Erik Gruenwedel of Media Play News:

NBCUniversal June 2 announced that its ad-supported streaming TV service Xumo has launched in Canada on the Ignite Entertainment platform, available on both Rogers Ignite TV and Ignite SmartStream services — the first international expansion for the Xumo app.

“The launch of the Xumo app on Rogers Ignite TV and Ignite SmartStream is an important milestone in our growing app portfolio,” Chris Hall, SVP, Product at Xumo, said in a statement.

Channels available within the app include Radio Canada, CBC News, XUMO Free Movies, ABC News Live, The Johnny Carson Show, Free Action Movies, America’s Test Kitchen, beIN Sports Xtra, batteryPop and more.

“With the integration of Xumo, we are expanding our content library and elevating Ignite TV and Ignite SmartStream as the destination of entertainment, giving more choice and unparalleled access to the most integrated free content of any other major provider in Canada,” added Myrianne Collin, Chief Marketing Officer, Rogers Communications.

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Source: https://www.nexttv.com/news/comcast-conducts-xumos-first-intl-expansion-via-canadian-cable-company-rogers

Reported by: Daniel Frankel of Next TV:

Comcast paid $100 million for Xumo in February 2020, amid the shopping bonanza for ad-supported streaming services that occurred a few years back.

But unlike Paramount's Global's $340 million purchase of Pluto TV and Fox's $440 million Tubi buy, we haven't heard much --nay, anything at all -- about international expansion for Xumo.

That is, until now. Sort of.

Comcast has struck a deal with Rogers Communications to put a customized version of the Xumo app on the Canadian cable operator's Comcast-designed Ignite TV and Ignite SmartStream video systems.

Rogers still has more than 2 million TV/video subscribers, and the cable operator's Ignite TV is based on Comcast's X1 platform.

Xumo offers more than 200 digital channels of free, including Radio Canada, CBC News, Xumo Free Movies, ABC News Live, The Johnny Carson Show, Free Action Movies, America’s Test Kitchen, beIN Sports Xtra, batteryPop.

Comcast said Xumo had 24 million active users back in 2020, but the No. 1 U.S. cable company has been close to the vest about the platform since.

The free-to-consumer service is one of the lynchpins in the video service JV being developed by Comcast and Charter.

“The launch of the Xumo app on Rogers Ignite TV and Ignite SmartStream is an important milestone in our growing app portfolio,” noted Chris Hall, senior VP of product at Xumo. “Canadian viewers will now have access to even more free programming directly from Rogers, and it will be seamlessly integrated within the experience to make search and discovery easy.”

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