VOD 365, a leading provider of branded OTT TV channels via Freeview, Freesat, mobile and smart TV devices will launch their documentary and sports on-demand channels, Planet Knowledge and Sports Channel Network, on YouView, the Company announced today.
The Planet Knowledge TV Player and Sports Channel Network TV Player will debut on YouView simultaneously on 26th November.
Offering numerous sports categories including football, golf, fishing, equestrian, winter sports, surfing, motorsport and formula E, Sports Channel Network is the leading UK sports channel delivering premium HD VOD and soon-to-be live sports programming in an OTT environment for free. Planet Knowledge offers viewers hundreds of hours of free-to-air premium factual documentaries covering history, nature, science, people and travel including many in HD.
The channels will be available through YouView set top boxes, smart televisions, Freesat, iOS and android tablets and smartphones. The services are also available via channel 265 (Planet Knowledge) and channel 266 (Sports Channel Network) on Freeview and YouView connected TV’s and set top boxes.
The partnership between VOD 365 and YouView will see the free-to-stream channels added to YouView’s suite of video-on-demand (VoD) and subscription VoD services. The Planet Knowledge TV Player and Sports Channel Network TV Player join other premium on-demand services on the platform including Netflix, Amazon, BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub and Now TV and will be accessible to YouView’s 3 million users – rolling out across all YouView connected set-top boxes including TalkTalk TV and BT TV homes.
Today’s announcement closely follows the premiere of VOD 365-owned kids’ on-demand channel, Ketchup, which made its debut on YouView in October.
Commenting on the agreement, VOD 365 Founder and CEO, Paul Coster, said: “We are extremely pleased to be extending our agreement with YouView which will see both Planet Knowledge and Sports Channel Network joining our kids’ on-demand service, Ketchup, on the YouView platform. Today’s announcement marks a key moment in our distribution strategy and underlines our ability to offer a wide selection of opportunities to our brand advertising partners as we continue to extend our digital reach to UK audiences, who will be able to access these exciting channels via both the on- demand EPG channel listings and app.”
David Faulkner, Head of Corporate and Business Development, YouView said: “Following the recent roll out of Ketchup TV in October, we are delighted to welcome both Planet Knowledge and Sports Channel Network to YouView’s line up of players. They complement the existing line up nicely, bringing more great content to our viewers, across the UK.”
