Canada: Bell Media ‘first look’ VoD strategy
December 3, 2014
Bell Media has unveils a first-look strategy for its subscription on demand video streaming service that will see episodes of original Canadian series premiere on ‘Project Latte’ 24 hours in advance of their network television premières. The announcement was made as Bell Media revealed the premium Canadian scripted content that will be available on the service, representing the most-acclaimed and most-watched original primetime programming in Canada. It was also confirmed today that Corner Gas: The Movie will be the first Canadian programme to receive a first-look screening on ‘Project Latte’ ahead of its linear television premiere.
The first-look strategy is designed to provide crucial samplings of episodes ahead of their regular network airings, while providing an additional platform to proudly showcase Canada’s independent productions. Series that receive first-look screenings will stack on ‘Project Latte’ for their entire current-season run, which will be immediately complementary to the past-season episodes also on the service.
“Our first-look execution not only provides terrific value to customers of Project Latte, but represents an additive strategy, delivering a Canadian advantage for our production partners,” said Mike Cosentino, Senior Vice-President, Programming, Bell Media. “It demonstrates pride of place for our original productions and the value they provide. With complete past seasons along with the current, in-season episodes available on the service, it helps build the profile of these series for discovery by even more TV viewers.”