Food Network and Travel Channel on TVPlayer
June 19, 2014
By Colin Mann
TVPlayer, the free TV streaming app for mobile and tablet, has agreed a licensing deal for popular lifestyle entertainment channels Food Network and Travel Channel, including their ‘plus ones’, from Scripps Networks UK & EMEA.
Food Network and Travel Channel are the only dedicated lifestyle entertainment channels on the platform and include programming such as Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Ina Garten’s Barefoot Contessa and Andy Bates Brazilian Street Feasts on Food Network and Michael Palin’s Around the World in 80 Days, World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides and Coach Trip on Travel Channel. Both channels will now be available to watch online for free, via TVPlayer.
The channels being added collectively account for 5 per cent of total TV viewing in the United Kingdom, according to BARB. TVPlayer already carries a comprehensive range of music, news and entertainment channels, including the main channels from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and FIVE.
The new channels being added to TVPlayer take the total channel offering to over 40 channels. Additional licensing deals will be announced over the summer, meaning TVPlayer now has more licensed channels than any other live streaming app on the market in the UK. Main new functionality released in the June update includes iOS Push Notifications, meaning that TVPlayer can now remind its users of important events and the addition of new channels.
In partnership with Simplestream, Scripps is able to leverage its high quality programming with deep rights cleared for TVPlayer, enhancing the consumer experience for viewers alongside linear TV.
Adam Smith, Founder and CEO of the Simplestream Group plc, the owner of TVPlayer, said the addition of Scripps channels formed the start of a series of updates over the summer period, which will add further channels and functionality to TVPlayer, culminating with the launch of the company’s PVR service later in the year. “With the number of set-top boxes currently in the market, we think the TVPlayer app offers a welcome alternative to tech-hungry audiences, who are looking to watch TV on their mobile and tablet devices whilst they are out and about as well as at home.”
“Distributing Food Network and Travel Channel via an OTT solution is an exciting step in providing another way for consumers to watch our content on platforms that are convenient for them, and it’s an exciting venture to partner with such innovators like TVPlayer. Food Network and Travel Channel offer compelling food and travel lifestyle entertainment. TV Player is a seamless place to watch the channel whenever consumers like, whilst also enhancing Scripps’ cross-platform offering,” commented Kate Bradshaw, Head of Digital, UK & EMEA, Scripps Networks International.