Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Cinedigm Launches The Bob Ross Channel App on VIZIO

Channel Content Now Available On-Demand, Free on VIZIO Smart TVs

Los Angeles, CA (January 20, 2021) --  Cinedigm (NASDAQ: CIDM) today announced The Bob Ross Channel app has officially launched on VIZIO SmartCast, the award-winning Smart TV platform available to millions of viewers.  

The Bob Ross Channel app is now available as a free, ad-supported VIZIO SmartCast video-on-demand app powered by Cinedigm’s proprietary Matchpoint Blueprint platform.  The app showcases the entire catalog of Bob Ross’ television series The Joy of Painting, and highlights incredible paintings. , Featuring approximately 380 classic episodes, the Bob Ross Channel app delivers hours of his seminal television series. In addition, a collection of Bob Ross screensavers, optimized for high-definition televisions, will be made available within the SmartCast app. These screensavers showcase many Bob Ross paintings in full-screen, synchronized to music and organized by theme. Approximately a dozen of these Bob Ross Gallery View screensavers will be available, with more to be released on an ongoing basis. 


For 31 seasons, beloved painter, art instructor, and TV host Bob Ross captivated millions of viewers around the globe with his EMMY-winning hit series The Joy of Painting. The show first ran on public television stations in the United States, from 1983 to 1994, and has continued to be broadcast on more than 150 public TV channels and on Create TV in the U.S.  Distributed by APT Worldwide, Ross’ programs are also available in many countries ranging from the UK to Thailand, on airline flights and other platforms.  

 

Though Ross passed away in 1995, his legacy lives on as the series continues to enthrall and inspire new generations of viewers — amassing a combined total of more than 5.5 million social media followers, as well as 5.6 million unique views on Twitch, with nearly one million hours of The Joy of Painting consumed on Hulu, and an hour-long YouTube special that attracted over 2.5 million viewers. 

SmartCast is the award-winning Smart TV operating system that comes equipped with every new VIZIO TV. SmartCast powers a vast array of entertainment options for millions of households with content for everyone including audiophiles, gamers, kids & families, multicultural audiences, sports enthusiasts, cinephiles, and more. VIZIO is continuously enhancing SmartCast with new features and content. SmartCast provides free content, available 24/7, from the SmartCast Home screen. 

"Due to the continued success of The Bob Ross Channel, we remain focused on extending its reach and meeting the strong consumer demand for his iconic television series," said Tony Huidor, Cinedigm’s General Manager of Digital Networks. “VIZIO reaches millions of American homes, offering us a valuable opportunity to showcase the capabilities of our Matchpoint Blueprint applications, including The Bob Ross Channel app, across a long list of VIZIO’s SmartCast television models.” 

 

Cinedigm continues to focus on bringing well-established brands, and film and television content from leading content owners into the growing, free ad-supported television (FAST) marketplace. Opportunities for premium content remain strong within the OTT ad-supported space as traditional cable and satellite services continue to lose subscribers. 

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About Cinedigm  

For more than twenty years, Cinedigm (NASDAQ: CIDM) has led the digital transformation of the entertainment industry. Today, Cinedigm entertains hundreds of millions of consumers around the globe by providing premium content, streaming channels and technology services to the world’s largest media, technology and retail companies.  

 

Cinedigm uses, and will continue to use, its website, press releases, SEC filings, and various social media channels, including Twitter (https://twitter.com/cinedigm), LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/cinedigm/), Facebook (https://facebook.com/Cinedigm), StockTwits (https://stocktwits.com/CinedigmCorp) and the Company website (www.cinedigm.com) as additional means of disclosing public information to investors, the media and others interested in the Company. It is possible that certain information that the Company posts on its website, disseminated in press releases, SEC filings, and on social media could be deemed to be material information, and the Company encourages investors, the media and others interested in the Company to review the business and financial information that the Company posts on its website, disseminates in press releases, SEC filings and on the social media channels identified above, as such information could be deemed to be material information. For more information, visit http://www.cinedigm.com. 

 

About VIZIO 

Headquartered in Irvine, California, VIZIO is driving the future of televisions through its integrated platform of cutting-edge Smart TVs and powerful SmartCast operating system. VIZIO’s platform gives content providers more ways to distribute their content and advertisers more tools to target and dynamically serve ads to a growing audience that is increasingly transitioning away from linear TV. 


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Press Contact for CINEDIGM
Jill Calcaterra
T: 310-466-5135
E: jcalcaterra@cinedigm.com

Press Contact for VIZIO
Melissa Hourigan
Fabric Media
T: 720-608-1919
E: melissa@fabricmedia.net

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Cinedigm Acquires Fandor(R), the Leading Global Independent Film Subscription Streaming Service


LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 19, 2021 / Cinedigm (NASDAQ:CIDM) announced today that the Company has acquired Fandor®, the leading global independent film subscription streaming service with the largest collection of independent films, documentaries, and international features in the market.

Called "The Netflix for Indie Film" by The Wall Street Journal and "A streaming rabbit hole worth falling down" by The New York Times, Fandor® has been delighting film-loving audiences around the world for more than a decade, with its catalog of over 4,600 film titles from more than 400 global and diverse partner film companies. Fandor's acclaimed film offerings range from high-quality studio classics to festival favorites to essential award-winning foreign cinema features.

Tapping into the $4.8 billion-dollar global market for independent film, Cinedigm plans to leverage its substantial content library, technology, engineering and distribution capabilities to rapidly expand Fandor's content offering, relaunch the service's apps and dramatically expand distribution to Cinedigm's global footprint of over 900 million connected devices. The Company anticipates the service could reach seven figure subscriber levels within the next 24-30 months with a focus on rapid global expansion and distribution. Cinedigm will continue to offer the service ad-free, but also plans to offer a free, ad-supported on-demand tier as well as a linear streaming channel to further broaden the service's reach to audiences of all viewing preferences.

Cinedigm plans to heavily draw from a pool of more than 7,000 relevant film titles in its library, including thousands of classic, cult and foreign titles from streaming service The Film Detective, which it acquired in December 2020. The Company also plans on ramping up new and existing content partnerships with distribution partners from around the globe to make Fandor the preeminent destination for emerging global voices. The Company also plans to relaunch Keyframe, Fandor's web and video-based publication dedicated to covering the art of cinema. Phil Hopkins, President of Cinedigm's Film Detective division and life-long cinephile, will oversee Fandor and Keyframe, with the goal of relaunching the service in the coming quarter.

"This acquisition of Fandor, coming on the heels of our Film Detective acquisition, solidifies Cinedigm's position as the leading global streaming company for independent films," said Chris McGurk, Cinedigm Chairman and CEO. "As a key element of our recently announced streaming rollup strategy, Fandor will immediately benefit from our streaming distribution muscle, huge library of independent films, Matchpoint technology, cost savings and infrastructure and synergies with our wide portfolio of enthusiast streaming channels. We fully expect an immediate EBITDA uplift from Fandor and strong revenue and profit growth going forward."

"The paradox of the streaming revolution is that it has never been harder to discover classic, essential and new independent and foreign films," said Erick Opeka, Chief Strategy Officer and President of Cinedigm Networks. "The founders of Fandor had the right idea, launching very early in the streaming growth cycle while still establishing a strong and resilient brand and viewer base. Our mission at Cinedigm is to enable viewers, including independent film enthusiasts, to stream their passions, and I can't think of a streaming service that is truer to our mission than Fandor."

"The opportunity to leverage Fandor's passionate community of independent film enthusiasts will be integral in the service's growth," said Phil Hopkins, President of The Film Detective. "Being able to communicate and collaborate with this community of content creators, bloggers, and editorial writers will allow us to significantly expand Fandor into the global focal point for streaming independent films, documentaries, classics and foreign films."

The Film Detective service trailer can be seen here: https://vimeo.com/189045960

Artwork can be found here: https://www.fandor.com/company/media_kit

Media Consultant Charles Theiss assisted on this transaction. Charles has more than 30 years of professional media experience, serving in key senior executive management positions and advisory roles with well-known legacy and digital brands.

ABOUT CINEDIGM
For more than twenty years, Cinedigm (NASDAQ:CIDM) has led the digital transformation of the entertainment industry. Today, Cinedigm entertains hundreds of millions of consumers around the globe by providing premium content, streaming channels and technology services to the world's largest media, technology and retail companies. For more information, visit http://www.cinedigm.com/.

Cinedigm uses, and will continue to use, its website, press releases, SEC filings, and various social media channels, including Twitter (https://twitter.com/cinedigm), LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/cinedigm/), Facebook (facebook.com/Cinedigm), StockTwits (https://stocktwits.com/CinedigmCorp) and the Company website (www.cinedigm.com) as additional means of disclosing public information to investors, the media and others interested in the Company. It is possible that certain information that the Company posts on its website, disseminated in press releases, SEC filings, and on social media could be deemed to be material information, and the Company encourages investors, the media and others interested in the Company to review the business and financial information that the Company posts on its website, disseminates in press releases, SEC filings and on the social media channels identified above, as such information could be deemed to be material information.

ABOUT FANDOR
Fandor streams thousands of handpicked, award-winning movies from around the world. With dozens of genres that include Hollywood classics, undiscovered gems, and the latest festival favorites, Fandor provides curated entertainment and original editorial content on desktop, iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Amazon Prime, and throughout social media. With a rapidly expanding library and innovative partnerships, Fandor's goal is to captivate and inspire a global community of movie lovers. Learn more at http://www.Fandor.com.

Press Contact for CIDM:
Jill Calcaterra
310-466-5135
jcalcaterra@cinedigm.com

SOURCE: Cinedigm Corp.

Saturday, January 2, 2021

Here is what's coming to Shudder (and Shudder Canada) in January 2021

Editor's Note: This article uses content from multiple sources and blog posts... the Editor of @StreamOnABudget takes no credit for this post, all credit goes to the author(s) of the post at the sources following this article. 

JANUARY 2021 U.S. HIGHLIGHTS
titles also available on Shudder Canada, UK and ANZ as noted



NEW SHUDDER ORIGINAL/EXCLUSIVE MOVIES

HUNTED — January 14
What started as a flirtatious encounter at a bar turns into a life-or-death struggle as Eve becomes the unknowing target of a misogynistic plot against her. Forced to flee as two men pursue her through the forest, she’s pushed to her extremes while fighting to survive—but survival isn’t enough for Eve. She will have revenge. A modern and radical take on the Little Red Riding Hood fable, Hunted is an exhilarating, transcendent, and frequently brutal survival tale that elevates itself with the power of myth and magic, while still holding an exacting mirror to present-day society.

The live-action, English-language, and solo directorial debut for Academy Award-nominated French filmmaker and comic artist Vincent Paronnaud (Cannes Jury Prize Winner Persepolis, Chicken with Plums), Hunted is co-written by Paronnaud alongside Léa Pernollet and stars Magritte Award-winning actors Lucie Debay (The Confession) and Arieh Worthalter (Girl), with Ciaran O’Brien rounding out the intimate main cast. A SHUDDER ORIGINAL. (Also available on Shudder Canada, Shudder UK and Shudder ANZ) Trailer: https://youtu.be/TjSSbgg4Lwo

THE QUEEN OF BLACK MAGIC — January 28
The sins of the past come back with a vengeance in this new film from two of Indonesia’s modern masters of horror, director Kimo Stamboel (Headshot) and writer Joko Anwar (Satan’s Slaves, Impetigore). A family travels to the distant, rural orphanage where the father was raised to pay their respects to the facility’s gravely ill director. But his and his best friends’ homecoming turns into a terrifying supernatural ordeal that threatens their and their families’ lives: someone is using dark magic to avenge evil deeds, long buried but not forgotten. Stamboel’s film is a reimagining of the 1981 Indonesian horror classic of the same name. Starring Ario Bayu, Hannah Al Rashid, Adhisty Zara, Ari Irham and Muzakki Ramdhan. A SHUDDER ORIGINAL. (Also available on Shudder Canada, Shudder UK and Shudder ANZ) Trailer: https://youtu.be/9uC7_PFQgCc

NEW SERIES / NEW SEASONS

A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES Season 2 — January 9 (new episodes every Saturday)
The highly anticipated return of the smash hit series based on the best-selling All Souls novels by Deborah Harkness. Season two sees Matthew (Emmy-nominated Matthew Goode, Downton Abbey) and Diana (Teresa Palmer, Hacksaw Ridge) hiding in time in the fascinating and treacherous world of Elizabethan London where they must find a powerful witch to help Diana master her magic and search for the elusive Book of Life. In the present day however, their enemies have not forgotten them. Returning for Season 2: Alex Kingston (Doctor Who), Valarie Pettiford (Half & Half), Lindsay Duncan (The Honourable Woman), Edward Bluemel (Killing Eve), Aiysha Hart (Line of Duty), Daniel Ezra (All American) Aisling Loftus (War & Peace), Trevor Eve (Waking the Dead), Owen Teale (Game of Thrones), Malin Buska (The Girl King), and Gregg Chillin (Da Vinci’s Demons). A SHUDDER/SUNDANCE NOW ORIGINAL SERIES. (Also available on Shudder Canada) Trailer: https://youtu.be/_3yMVR1LUfc

THE WALKING DEAD: WORLD BEYOND Season 1 – January 21 (all episodes)
The most recent series in The Walking Dead Universe comes to Shudder. The Walking Dead: World Beyond delves into a new mythology and story that follows the first generation raised in the surviving civilization of a post-apocalyptic world. Two sisters along with two friends leave a place of safety and comfort to brave dangers, known and unknown, living and undead, on an important quest. Pursued by those who wish to protect them and those who wish to harm them, a tale of growing up and transformation unfurls across dangerous terrain, challenging everything they know. Starring Aliyah Royale (The Red Line), Alexa Mansour (Unfriended: Dark Web), Nico Tortorella (Younger), Annet Mahendru (The Americans), Nicolas Cantu (Vikes), Hal Cumpston (Bilched), and Emmy-winner Julia Ormond (Forever).

NEW COLLECTIONS FOR JANUARY

STARRING PETER CUSHING — January 18
With a career that spanned six decades, Peter Cushing was one of the most iconic actors in horror history, bringing a profound dignity and vulnerability to every role—no matter how wild the premise or how rubber the monster. Celebrate his work with these four films from the ‘60s and ‘70s: haunted castle-set And Now the Screaming Starts with Herbert Lom, Patrick Magee and Stephanie Beacham; madhouse anthology Asylumwith Lom and Magee again, plus Britt Ekland, Barbara Parkins and Charlotte Rampling; werewolf mystery The Beast Must Die with Calvin Lockhart, Ganja & Hess star Marlene Clark and Michael Gambon; and The Flesh and the Fiends (also available on Shudder Canada), a retelling of the Burke and Hare murders with Donald Pleasence.

Infographic for what's coming to Shudder in Canada.

ALL NEW TITLES FOR JANUARY

January 4
SUPER DARK TIMES (Director: Kevin Phillips)
Zach and Josh are best friends growing up in the ‘90s in the suburbs—where teenage life revolves around hanging out, looking for kicks, navigating first love and vying for popularity. When a traumatic incident drives a wedge between the previously inseparable pair, their youthful innocence abruptly vanishes. Each processes the tragedy in his own way, until circumstances grow increasingly complex and spiral into violence. Starring Owen Campbell, Charlie Tahan, Elizabeth Cappuccino. (Also available on Shudder Canada, Shudder UK and Shudder ANZ)

FINGERS (Director: Juan Ortiz)
When an employee shows up to work with a missing pinky, it awakens demons in his boss that she never knew she harbored. Starring Sabina Friedman-Seitz, Jeremy Gardner, Michael St. Michaels. (Also available on Shudder Canada, Shudder UK and Shudder ANZ)

January 9
A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES episode 201 (see above for details)

January 11
BEFORE THE FIRE (Director: Charlie Buhler)
As a global pandemic engulfs Los Angeles, rising TV star Ava Boone is forced to flee the mounting chaos and return to her rural hometown. As she struggles to acclimate to a way of life she left behind long ago, her homecoming attracts a dangerous figure from her past—threatening both her and the family that serves as her only sanctuary. Starring Jenna Lyng Adams, Jackson Davis, Ryan Vigilant, Charles Hubbell. (Also available on Shudder Canada, Shudder UK and Shudder ANZ)

CUB (Director: Jonas Govaerts)
A boy scout on a camping trip realizes something evil is in the woods, but the other scouts, who love to pick on Sam, don’t buy his story. What nobody knows is that a deranged poacher and his feral son have booby-trapped the entire area and are eager to test out their toys on the clueless children. Starring Maurice Luijten, Evelien Bosmans, Titus De Voogdt.

THE PIT (Director: Lew Lehman)
Twelve-year old Jamie is an outcast in his small town—he is bullied, he shows signs of being a sexual deviant, and he has no friends aside from his demonic teddy bear, Teddy. Influenced by commands he hears from Teddy, Jamie lures his unsuspecting tormentors one by one to a forest pit that he has discovered on the outskirts of town, so that they can be devoured by the man-eating troglodytes that dwell at the bottom of THE PIT. Starring Sammy Snyders, Jeannie Elias, Sonja Smits.

CELIA (Director: Ann Turner)
An imaginative and somewhat disturbed young girl fantasizes about evil creatures and other oddities to mask her insecurities while growing up in rural Australia. Starring Rebecca Smart, Nicholas Eadie, Victoria Longley. (Also available on Shudder Canada and Shudder UK)

January 14
HUNTED (see above for details)

January 16
A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES episode 202 (see above for details)

January 18 — STARRING PETER CUSHING
AND NOW THE SCREAMING STARTS (Director: Roy Ward Baker)
At the end of the 1700’s, Catherine and Charles’ honeymoon is thrown into chaos when she is raped and impregnated by a ghost. Before long, they’ve got to contend with a murderous severed hand, a skeptical psychiatrist, and other creepy circumstances. One of Amicus Studios’ few non-anthology films, ANTS remains a superb slice of 70’s British brutality. Starring Peter Cushing, Herbert Lom, Patrick Magee, Stephanie Beacham, Ian Ogilvy.

ASYLUM (Director: Roy Ward Baker)
In order to secure a job at a mental institution, a young psychiatrist must interview four patients inside the asylum and hear their terrifying stories. Starring Barbara Parkins, Richard Todd, Sylvia Syms, Peter Cushing.

THE BEAST MUST DIE (Director: Paul Annett)
A group of guests at a country house learn that one of them is secretly a werewolf in this supernatural mystery which famously included a “Werewolf Break” where audience members could guess who the guilty party is. Among the many suspects are an archaeologist, a piano player and diplomat, all of whom must submit to a series of strange werewolf tests. Starring Calvin Lockhart, Peter Cushing, Marlene Clark.

THE FLESH AND THE FIENDS (Director: John Gilling)
Horror audiences have long been fascinated by the tale of Robert Knox, a Scottish doctor who in 1828 became notorious for his complicity in a series of murders committed by grave robbers Burke and Hare, who received cash in exchange for fresh cadavers. John Gilling’s exceptionally eerie 1960 retelling, unlike John Landis’ 2010 slapstick BURKE & HARE, is historically accurate right down to Knox’s lazy left eye. Starring Peter Cushing, June Laverick, Donald Pleasence. (Also available on Shudder Canada)

January 19
THE WOLF HOUSE (Director: Joaquín Cociña, Cristóbal León)
Winner — Best Animated Film, Boston Society of Film Critics Awards 2020. Maria, a young woman, finds refuge in a house in the south of Chile after escaping from a sect of German religious fanatics. She is welcomed into the home by two pigs, the only inhabitants of the place. Like in a dream, the universe of the house reacts to Maria’s feelings. The animals transform slowly into humans and the house becomes a nightmarish world. Inspired by the actual case of Colonia Dignidad, “The Wolf House” masquerades as an animated fairy tale produced by the leader of the sect in order to indoctrinate its followers. Starring Amalia Kassai, Rainer Krause. (Also available on Shudder Canada)

January 21
THE WALKING DEAD: WORLD BEYOND Season 2 (see above for details)

January 23
A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES episode 203 (see above for details)

January 25
NIGHTBREED (Director: Clive Barker)
Aaron is tormented by visions of monstrous, graveyard-dwelling creatures. But his creepy therapist offers little solace. When he’s framed for serial slayings in the area, he heads for Midian, a place where undead monsters known as the “Nightbreed” live. Barker’s follow-up to HELLRAISER developed a cult following on video, and its recent restoration proves its important place in horror cinema. Starring Craig Sheffer, David Cronenberg, Anne Bobby. (Also available on Shudder Canada)

RAWHEAD REX (Director: George Pavlou)
He’s pure evil… pure power… pure terror! RawHead Rex is a demon, alive for millennia, trapped in the depths of hell and waiting for release. He is held by an ancient seal, imprisoned for centuries in a barren field near the hamlet of Rathmore, Ireland. In time, this gruesome legacy has been forgotten, dismissed as an odd pre-Christian myth until Tom Garron decides to plow the field his ancestors knew better than to disturb. The seal is broken, and an unspeakable evil is unleashed. Screenplay by Clive Barker. Starring David Dukes, Kelly Piper, Niall Toibin, Ronan Wilmot, Niall O’Brien, Donal McCann. (Also available on Shudder Canada)

January 26
THE UNTOLD STORY (Directors: Danny Lee, Herman Yau)
After a severed hand washes up on a Macao beach, Police suspect Wong Chi Hang, the new owner of The Eight Immortals restaurant, famous for their delicious pork buns. The hands belong to the missing mother of the restaurant’s former owner who has disappeared along with the rest of his family. Staff at the restaurant continue to go missing but the police can’t find any hard evidence. Can they make him talk? And what was in those famous pork buns? (Also available on Shudder Canada)

THE WOMAN (Director: Lucky McKee)
A man imprisons a violent, feral woman and enlists his family to help civilize her. Terrified of his domineering ways, his wife and daughters reluctantly go along with his plan. But his horny son needs no encouragement to start his own abusive treatment of the woman. Lucky McKee and Jack Ketchum’s shocking tale of American sadism is one of the most provocative horror films of the decade, unflinching in its depiction of extreme violence inflicted on women and the horror of unchecked male privilege. Starring Pollyanna McIntosh, Lauren Ashley Carter, Sean Bridgers, Angela Bettis (Also available on Shudder Canada and Shudder UK)

January 28
THE QUEEN OF BLACK MAGIC (see above for details)

January 30
A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES episode 204 (see above for details)

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Sources used for this article:
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Shudder is available on Roku in Canada (Search 'Shudder' on your Roku TV or Roku device). Shudder is available on a wide range of devices, including Amazon FireTV, and more. Visit the official website help page for downloads and 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.

Friday, January 1, 2021

This Month on The Roku Channel in Canada | January 2021

From the Roku Blog... the Editor of @StreamOnABudget takes no credit for this post, all credit goes to the authors of the post at https://blog.roku.com/en-ca/new-the-roku-channel-canada

Picture of Roku StaffRoku Staff - January 1, 2021

New year, even more great FREE content! Get ready to cozy up inside this winter with some of these titles new this month on The Roku Channel.


Rudy
Rudy Ruettiger (Sean Astin) wants nothing more in life than to play football at the University of Notre Dame. Rudy however lacks the money for tuition as well as the grades to qualify for a scholarship. When his best friend (Christopher Reed) dies in an accident at the steel mills where Rudy works, he works to overcome his dyslexia with the help of his friend and tutor, D-Bob (Jon Favreau). Rudy gains admission to Notre Dame and fights his way onto the school’s fabled football team.

Dear White People
Following the lives of four Black college students at a predominantly white Ivy League school, Dear White People looks at racial identity in acutely-not-post-racial America. Samantha White starts a radio show called “Dear White People” and causes a stir when she announces that to avoid looking racist, white people are required to have at least two Black friends.

I Spy
When an American government prototype fighter jet is stolen, top spy Alex Scott (Owen Wilson) is called in to track it down. However, Alex is surprised to learn he is partnered with an arrogant civilian, World Class Boxing Champion Kelly Robinson (Eddie Murphy). The duo must work together to catch world class arms dealer Arnold Gundars and retrieve the stolen fighter jet.

Supernova
A small deep space rescue and recovery spaceship receives a distress call from a mining operation over 3,000 light years away. A rescue operation via dimension jump is attempted, but things go awry quickly when the ship’s equipment malfunctions.

National Lampoon’s Movie Madness
Consisting of three shorts, The Movie Madness spoofs Hollywood cliches. The shorts highlight personal growth, revenge, and police stories.

Bewitched (1964)
When witch Samantha Stephens (Elizabeth Montgomery) marries Darrin (Dick York/Dick Sargent), a mortal man, she can’t help but use her powers to solve the everyday issues her family faces despite Darrin’s wishes to live a normal life. Between Nosey Neighbours, Darrin’s parents and other mortals, Samantha needs to watch as not to spoil her secret to the world. Things become more interesting as the two start a family.

Little Women (1994)
A 1994 adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic which features the coming of age of the March sisters in mid-19th-century Massachusetts. With their father fighting in the Civil War, the girls are forced to lean on each other and their mother more than ever as they navigate life.

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Add The Roku Channel to your Roku or Roku TV here: https://channelstore.roku.com/en-ca/details/cca8151de08451c477c322d5e27cea3d/the-roku-channel

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

Monday, December 28, 2020

The Film Detective is Ringing in the New Year with a Month of Classic Comedy

The Film Detective is starting the New Year with new comedy marathons, new collections of classic film and television content, and new ownership by industry leader, Cinedigm

PRESS RELEASE UPDATED: DEC 28, 2020 11:00 EST

ROCKPORT, Mass., December 28, 2020 (Newswire.com) - The Film Detective (TFD), a classic media streaming network and film archive that restores and distributes classic films for today's cord-cutters and is now wholly-owned by Cinedigm (NASDAQ: CIDM), is dedicating the upcoming month to the lighthearted side of cinema. In a time of increased demand for at-home entertainment, The Film Detective is delivering the nostalgia of film’s favorite comics throughout the entire month of January.

Kicking off The Film Detective’s month of comedy will be a 48-hour New Year’s Laugh-a-thon, on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Laugh along with such timeless jokesters as The Three Stooges and Groucho Marx, starting at 12AM ET on Dec. 31.

The New Year’s Laugh-a-thon will also feature The Film Detective debut of The Carol Burnett Show (1967-1978) and The Marx Brothers TV Collection (1951-1976), courtesy of Shout! Factory.

The Carol Burnett Show (1967-1978) will join The Johnny Carson Show (1974-1986) in a new late-night line-up of classic television, available weeknights at 10:30 PM ET. Viewers will enjoy additional arrivals including Carol Burnett’s early starring role opposite Buddy Hackett in Stanley (1956-1957), The Jerry Lewis Show: TV Specials (1957-1962), Father Knows Best (1954-1960), and more - coming in 2021.

Keeping the laughter going throughout January will be actress Betty White, celebrating her 99th birthday on Sunday, January 17. The Film Detective will recognize the decades of entertainment White has brought to audiences on her birthday with a marathon of her first comedy sitcom, Life with Elizabeth (1953-1955).

The Film Detective’s January 2021 line-up comes as its first under the new ownership of leading independent distribution company, Cinedigm (NASDAQ: CIDM). The recent acquisition of The Film Detective by Cinedigm adds The Film Detective’s library, comprised of 3,000 content titles, an estimated 10,000 individual film and TV episodes, and two Free-Ad-Supported-Television (FAST) linear networks, into Cinedigm’s extensive portfolio of streaming channels and content.

“I am thrilled to reach this acquisition agreement with Cinedigm, which will give The Film Detective the firepower to grow our content library and streaming channels much faster than before,” said Phil Hopkins, The Film Detective Founder and CEO. “Cinedigm has been a long-term independent leader in quality content distribution and streaming and I believe their capabilities will help take this business I have built over the years to an even higher level.”

For more information, visit https://www.thefilmdetective.com.

Contact:
Kerry Ryan
kerry@thefilmdetective.com

About The Film Detective:

The Film Detective is a leading distributor of restored classic programming, including films, television, foreign imports, and documentaries. Launched in 2014, The Film Detective has distributed its extensive library of 3,000+ hours of film on DVD and Blu-ray and through leading platforms including TCM, NBC, EPIX, Amazon, MeTV, and PBS. The Film Detective has released its classic movie app on web, Android, iOS, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV and is offered live on Sling, STIRR, Plex, and DistroTV.

About Cinedigm:

For more than twenty years, Cinedigm (NASDAQ: CIDM) has led the digital transformation of the entertainment industry. Today, Cinedigm entertains hundreds of millions of consumers around the globe by providing premium content, streaming channels and technology services to the world’s largest media, technology and retail companies.

Cinedigm uses, and will continue to use, its website, press releases, SEC filings, and various social media channels, including Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, StockTwits and the Company website as additional means of disclosing public information to investors, the media and others interested in the Company. It is possible that certain information that the Company posts on its website, disseminated in press releases, SEC filings, and on social media could be deemed to be material information, and the Company encourages investors, the media and others interested in the Company to review the business and financial information that the Company posts on its website, disseminates in press releases, SEC filings and on the social media channels identified above, as such information could be deemed to be material information. For more information, visit http://www.cinedigm.com.

Source: The Film Detective

Original Press Release:

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The Film Detective is available on most major streaming apps and platforms around the world.
🍁 Watch the TFD live channel in Canada on DistroTV online; also install on Roku.
🍁 Video On Demand: Search 'The Film Detective' on Roku, or click here to install the app.

The Film Detective is available for Roku in all markets. Canadian shoppers looking for the latest generation of Roku TVs and devices, buy one today on Amazon.ca and help support @StreamOnABudget.

Saturday, December 19, 2020

Last minute Christmas shopping? Check out these best deals of the year on Roku devices and the new Roku Streambar!

Enjoy great offers on Roku products and channels to stream your favorite movies, TV, music and more.



Why head to the crowded mall? Shop from the comfort of your couch and take advantage of great low prices on Canadian editions of the Roku Premiere, Roku Streaming Stick+ and the BRAND NEW Roku Streambar! Plus, Canadian consumers can get 2 months of Crave, courtesy of Roku Canada, with the purchase of a new Roku player! Awesome deals if you're doing last minute Christmas shopping!

Hint: the Roku Streaming Stick+ is at the best deal ever! SHOP NOW!

Check out the latest Canadian editions of Roku on Amazon.ca today!
PLUS, your purchase during this sales event qualifies you for this special offer...!

Enjoy 2 months* when you subscribe to CRAVE! Perfect for the Holidays!


Canadian consumers can get 2 months of Crave, courtesy of Roku Canada, with the purchase of a new Roku player – including all the incredible entertainment that Crave has to offer, plus unlimited access to either HBO or Super Ecran. The choice is yours!

CRAVE has the best series, movies and more. All in one place. With Movies and HBO you unlock the biggest films added every week and the latest from HBO. You’ll also get access to the latest originals from Crave and Showtime as well as a deep catalogue of classic TV series from the HBO library to complete your HBO experience. 

*Purchase and activate by 1/10/21. Redeem by 1/31/21. Valid payment method required. CANCEL SUBSCRIPTION BEFORE PROMOTIONAL PERIOD ENDS TO AVOID $19.98 MONTHLY FEE + TAXES. Open to new Crave subscribers only. 18+. Canadian residents. Restrictions apply. Full terms: www.roku.com/offers/crave

Click here for more details about this offer!

Don't miss out on these great deals and get streaming for the Holidays!

Friday, December 18, 2020

Blue Ant Media launches HauntTV on The Roku Channel in Canada

Editor's Note: This article uses content from multiple sources and blog posts... the Editor of @StreamOnABudget takes no credit for this post, all credit goes to the author(s) of the post at the sources following this article. 

The media company views its debut in the FAST market as a unique offering in Canada.


Blue Ant Media has launched a free live streaming offering on The Roku Channel, a global ad-supported content distribution platform, as the Toronto-based media company looks to bring its ghostly programming to new audiences and monetize them.

HauntTV is a new 24/7 streaming channel lovers of all things spooky, with series such as Ghost Chasers (pictured), Ghostly Encounters and World’s Scariest Hauntings from Blue Ant’s library of original and acquired programming. The new channel is available to Canadians for free on all Roku devices.

HauntTV’s official launch signals Blue Ant Media’s debut in the Free Ad-supported Streaming Television (FAST) channels’ space in Canada.

“We are always looking at global trends – trends coming out of the U.S. and around the world – and we’re watching new distribution platforms launching, specifically in streaming video,” Jamie Schouela president of global channels and media at Blue Ant Media, tells MiC. “The FAST channels are offering content owners both a new window to monetize their series and connect with new audiences. The market is just now emerging in Canada and we believe it will quickly scale.”

According to Roku’s most recent quarterly financials, the streaming service had 46 million active accounts globally (up 43% year over year) who had streamed 14.8 billion hours of content since the service launched in 2017. (The Roku Channel became available in Canada in 2018.)

Schouela wouldn’t comment on The Roku Channel’s audience, saying only that it’s “broad.”

“We know there’s a passionate fan base who can’t get enough of our ghost content, and we believe The Roku Channel will introduce many viewers outside of the traditional TV ecosystem to them,” he says.

Schouela says Blue Ant doesn’t view the new offering as a horror-themed channel. He adds, “In the Canadian AVOD space, we believe HauntTV is unique because we’re all about catering to audiences who love ghost stories.”

Streamers can find HauntTV on The Roku Channel under the “Live TV” section on the streamer’s player or on Roku TV.

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Sources used for this article: 
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Add The Roku Channel to your Roku or Roku TV here: https://channelstore.roku.com/en-ca/details/cca8151de08451c477c322d5e27cea3d/the-roku-channel

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