Simplestream delivers PBS America player on Freeview Play
October 27, 2022
PBS America – the British television channel from America’s Public Broadcasting Service – has chosen Simplestream to create its first UK on demand service, launching the PBS America player on Freeview Play devices. Factual entertainment and documentary fans will be able to watch content from the service, accessible via the Explore Freeview Play interface, at Channel 100.
Simplestream has integrated with PBS America’s existing tech stack to create a free-to-access service which brings hand-picked content from PBS America’s extensive archive to British viewers. The combined solution will support PBS America in delivering new content to over 10 million Freeview Play users across the UK.
Simplestream’s Head of Sales, Josh Harrington, said: “Freeview Play offers remarkable reach to UK content distributors. Our objective at Simplestream is to facilitate the launch of new services in a frictionless and time-sensitive manner. We’re especially pleased to have been able to work with PBS’ existing playout and ad-serving partners. PBS America built upon their previous investments and obtained incremental reach on time and within budget.”
PBS America’s General Manager, Richard Kingsbury, added: “PBS America on Freeview Play is our first streaming catch up service in the UK and Simplestream have been impressive in terms of their expertise and collaboration in working with us and our other tech partners”.
Freeview Play’s Chief Commercial Officer, Deep Halder, commented: “We are thrilled about the launch of the PBS America player, it’s home to an incredible array of content that’s currently available exclusively to Freeview Play viewers. We want to thank both PBS America and Simplestream for their work in launching the player”.