Netflix may be shaking up the Australian TV viewing status quo but the onslaught of new streaming TV providers continues with two new services launching in the coming months.
Studio giant NBCUniversal is unleashing a subscription video-on-demand reality service branded Hayu. The service is slated to launch in the U.K., Ireland and Australia during March on a full array of devices including mobile, tablet, laptop and connected TV.
The reality TV only streaming service will include a free one-month trial with more than 3,000 episodes of reality content. New episodes are due to be added to the service every week.
NBCUniversal has a garnered a global niche in the reality TV programming sector with “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” “The Real Housewives,” “Million Dollar Listing” and “Top Chef” franchises, in addition to “I Am Cait,” “Made in Chelsea” and “The Millionaire Matchmaker,” to name a few of their catalogue.
NBCUniversal International chairman Kevin MacLellan said, “NBCUniversal’s expertise as the foremost producer of reality programming, along with the obvious popularity of the genre, was the trigger for launching Hayu. We know that reality content is a primary driver of social interaction and that fans of reality TV significantly over-index in online viewing.”
He added that the service was devised to build a platform that elegantly combines the best high-end reality shows with the most popular social media and digital news platforms.
Meanwhile over at the house of Google, YouTube’s new Netflix killer, YouTube Red, is also poised to hit the Australian market later this year.
The YouTube Red offering will attempt to lure customers with ad-free original content, such as film, TV shows and documentaries unavailable elsewhere.
The service has already launched in the US in late October, priced at US$9.99 per month.
YouTube chief business officer Robert Kyncl said the service was targeting the under-35s market.
The service will be in investing in up to 20 new shows each year. To capitalise on the pool of talent emerging from the YouTube ranks, the company will be giving financial backing to YouTube stars in order to create four new shows for Red.
YouTube Red is keeping its subscription numbers tight but are stating that it is tracking according to plans.
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