The Big Issue launches SVoD channel
March 4, 2021
The Big Issue, the iconic charity magzine, has launched The Big Issue TV (TBI TV) a new SVoD channel in partnership with Alchimie. TBI TV features a handpicked selection of award-winning documentaries and other factual programming to mirror the current issues covered by the magazine.
TBI TV is the first UK media brand to co-publish an SVoD channel powered and monetised by Alchimie’s technology, fuelled by Alchimie’s library and distributed across Alchimie’s network. TBI TV is ad-free, without commitment and available on all devices for a subscription fee of £3.99 per month.
The Big Issue editorial team will curate and regularly refresh, six playlists of thought-provoking documentaries chosen from Alchimie’s 60,000 hour library, one of the largest libraries of premium content in Europe. The playlists are in-line with the magazine’s perspective, and each covers one of the following areas: Culture, Social Activism, Finances, Geopolitics, Health & Technology and the Environment.
All playlists will be available to channel subscribers, and each will host relevant, challenging and insightful programmes chosen to chime with current events.
Russell Blackman, MD for The Big Issue, commented: “Covid changed everything for The Big Issue and our vendors. The launch of TBI TV is yet another way in which we are adapting and innovating in an ever- changing landscape to grow our reach, influence and impact in order to support some of the most vulnerable people in our society. As part of our commitment to digital growth, TBI TV will build a new audience, raise awareness of issues that matter, and inspire viewers to take action. The greater the awareness we can generate, the greater the impact we can have on people and planet. It will also help drive alternative sources of income to The Big Issue that will allow us to continue to provide the essential services and support to vendors, which they desperately need.”
Barry Llewellyn, Managing Director, Alchimie UK, added: “The Big Issue is a fantastic social enterprise, Alchimie is delighted to partner with such a well-respected and renowned media brand, and via TBI TV shine a light on the ‘big issues’ of social, cultural and political injustices through award-winning documentaries and other high quality factual programmes sourced from around the world. Big Issue TV may house challenging, provocative programming but it is the ultimate feel-good TV with the potential to reach to a whole country of subscribers and generate much needed income for the organisation, the homeless and the vulnerably housed, particularly during this very difficult Covid pandemic.”