US media giant Comcast has launched its ‘YouTube killer’, Watchable, a streaming site that debuts with videos from around 30 partners.
Ad-funded Watchable has gone live in beta, with Comcast describing it as “a new, cross-platform video service that curates a selection of the best content from popular online video networks and shows in an easy-to-use experience”.
The platform, which has been rumoured for months, has been billed as Comcast’s answer to Google’s domination of the ad-funded online content space through its ownership of market-leading vide site YouTube.
At launch, Watchable’s digital video partners include AwesomenessTV, Buzzfeed, Collective Studio 71, Defy Media, Discovery Digital Networks, Jukin Media, Machinima, Maker Studios, subsidiary NBCUniversal, The Onion, Red Bull, Refinery29, Scripps Networks Interactive and Vice.
This means popular YouTube channels such as The Young Turks, Day of Gluttony, SMOSH and Clevver will be available via iOS devices, watchable.com, and to Comcast’s X1 platform.
The content will be organised into categories such as Auto, Entertainment, Fashion & Style, Food & Travel, Funny, Gaming, Music, News, Science & Technology and Sports.
“We think Watchable can be a unique place that curates and distributes the bestcontent from some of the most recognised brands and producers on the web,” said Comcast Cable’s chief business development officer Sam Schwartz.
“Plus, many of our Watchable partners have not traditionally had distribution on the TV and we can give them a path to reach new audiences and further monetise their content on the biggest screen in the home.
He added Comcast would “continue to make investments in new media” going forwards.
ICYMI: European Commission takes issue with planned French SVOD rules digitaltveurope.com/2021/04/15/eur… https://t.co/v7ZXLiCufN
15 April 2021 @ 20:00:01 UTC
ICYMI: @netflix to remain top dog in Europe, but market share is shrinking digitaltveurope.com/2021/04/15/net… https://t.co/l1i94Qw2Nb
15 April 2021 @ 19:01:00 UTC
ICYMI: Liberty Global trialling Distributed Access Architecture with Teleste digitaltveurope.com/2021/04/15/lib…
15 April 2021 @ 18:28:00 UTC
.@plex adds US$50 million in funding to boost AVOD business digitaltveurope.com/2021/04/14/ple… https://t.co/XxqLKuWlI9
15 April 2021 @ 18:00:02 UTC
SPI/FilmBox expands into Nordic market with Waoo deal digitaltveurope.com/2021/04/15/spi… https://t.co/WZBzkO5lPy
15 April 2021 @ 17:00:00 UTC