The QYOU launches ‘best of web’ channel
October 14, 2014
Colin Mann @ MIPCOM
The QYOU (The Q), has launched what it claims is the world’s first international 24/7 pay-TV service to bring a curated selection of high quality, short form, Internet video content to television screens everywhere.
The QYOU is available for all pay-TV platforms and supports both video on demand and TV Everywhere applications. The QYOU launched with fast-growing Beijing-based pay-TV operator Star Times on 1 October, 2014.
The QYOU was founded and created by industry veterans Scott Ehrlich (Fox News, NBC Cable, Real, Divx), Curt Marvis (MTV, CinemaNow, Lionsgate), Les Garland (MTV, VH-1, The Box) and G. Scott Patterson (Lionsgate Entertainment, NeuLion, Engagement Labs), with extensive histories in both pay-TV and digital content.
The QYOU’s programming is a curated mix of high quality ‘produced-for-web’ content from around the world, presented and contextualised by on-air presenters, known as Q-rators. These Q-rators are Internet stars in their own right bringing their audience and sensibility to ensure the authenticity of the programming. Additionally, the channel has been created to be quickly and easily localised.
The QYOU is offered ad-free, which it suggests represents a unique addition to the linear channel line-up of any pay-TV service. The blend of videos featured on the linear channel will be supported with additional videos from top featured artists and creators via operator-based VoD.
“Online creators are establishing a new art form in much the same way music videos fuelled the popularity and growth of MTV.” The QYOU CEO Scott Ehrlich confirmed the service was committed to doing the same for this engaging and entertaining cultural phenomenon, while also generating meaningful royalties for an entirely new generation of web creative icons, film-makers and talent.”
Michael Dearham, VP of StarTimes Media Limited suggested it was a “great and timely opportunity” to create an engaging pay-TV channel that offers high quality, produced ‘made-for-web’ content from the world’s top Multi Channel Networks.