JustWatch, DIRECTV and Digital-Native Brands Open New Routes to Streaming Audiences

JustWatch Group moved beyond content discovery and into direct distribution on October 20, launching JustWatch TV with 30 content partners. The service lets viewers watch programming within JustWatch rather than only using its website and apps to locate titles elsewhere. Cineverse is the U.S. content partner, alongside Leonine Studios in Germany, SND in France and Altitude in the U.K. and Ireland. The launch combines free, advertising-supported programming with rentals and an ad-free option, turning JustWatch’s search-and-discovery audience into potential viewers and customers on its own platform. (tvnewscheck.com)

A separate October 20 agreement expanded C15 Studio’s FAST distribution through DIRECTV. F1 Channel, MotoGP Channel, DP World Tour and Yahoo! Sports Network are now available through MyFree DIRECTV and to DIRECTV subscribers using internet-connected set-top boxes. Their addition brings MyFree DIRECTV to 43 sports channels, more than one-quarter of its lineup. C15 Studio President and co-founder Amory Schwartz positioned the deal as a way to give the company’s league partners immediate scale, while MyFree DIRECTV General Manager Kent Rees said the channels support DIRECTV’s effort to offer more choice around sports. (thedesk.net)

Other October launches show media brands building destinations around defined audiences. Great American Media introduced Pure Flix Familia for Latino families, initially offering Spanish-language faith and family programming before adding English-language and bilingual stories. Bill Abbott, Great American Media’s president and CEO, said the service extends the Great American Pure Flix foundation. Minivela, co-founded by Manny Ruiz and actor-producer Carlos Ponce, is serving as programming, content and creative partner. (tvnewscheck.com)

Just Women’s Sports, founded and led by Haley Rosen, acquired women’s-sports technology company Victra Sports and used its technology for a new mobile app offering scores, schedules, statistics, notifications, editorial coverage and video. It also launched sport-specific brands Just Women’s Hoops and Just Women’s Football. (prnewswire.com)

Get After It Media is similarly connecting linear networks with a digital-native community. Its partnership with Mat Nastos’ RetroRewind will produce original content for Retro TV, The Heartland Network and Hasbro Legends while promoting those networks across RetroRewind’s social platforms. ConsumerEXP analysis: Together, the developments show distribution becoming less dependent on a single streaming app or pay-TV package; companies are combining owned services, FAST carriage, mobile utilities and social communities to create additional viewing and advertising entry points. (tvnewscheck.com)