Following the launch of the Warner TV on-demand platform on Virgin Media’s digital cable platform and on BT’s IPTV television service (Broadband TV News passim), the studio has announced it plans to roll out the service worldwide. This is part of a new strategy to launch a number of branded, video-on-demand, non-linear channels on a subscription and advertiser supported basis over a variety of delivery platforms.
Warner TV will bring the studio’s film and television series to viewers around the globe in a new way, it was announced by Jeffrey R. Schlesinger, president, Warner Bros. International Television. The studio has previously announced a deal with Japan’s USEN Corporation for a Warner TV channel on USEN’s ad-supported broadband broadcasting service, GyaO. Warner TV launched on GyaO in September and is available on the open Internet but geo-filtered for Japan only to protect rights holders of the programming outside of Japan. There is no charge to the user of GyaO for viewing the programming. However, it will be viewed with advertising that cannot be skipped.
Additionally, the studio launched another Warner TV service on the Free IPTV platform in France on a subscription basis. Soft launched in July, this service has already attracted over 25,000 subscribers paying €5.99 per month for access. This service is a combination of feature films and television series made available after their initial telecast on linear terrestrial broadcasters.
A second deal has also been closed in France with Orange. This will see a series-based Warner TV zone launched on their IPTV television on-demand service later this year.
