UKTV is to launch bespoke VOD services for its three free-to-air channels. The curated services for Dave, Yesterday and Really will provide a mix of popular catch-up and archive material that will be able to be viewed through the channel websites.
Already UKTV, owned by BBC Worldwide and Scripps Networks, has signed on demand agreements with TalkTalk, BT Vision and Sky Anytime.
Darren Childs, CEO UKTV, commented: “UKTV is investing more money in content than ever before and it is important we are servicing our viewers by enabling them to access Dave, Yesterday and Really directly for the very first time, through our On Demand Players – three vibrant and curated, direct to viewer, player services.
Dave, Yesterday and Really On Demand will contain content for which UKTV owns catch up rights, and will also include a curated archive full of high quality content from UKTV’s commissions, acquisitions and selected BBC programmes.
Ben Hine, UKTV’s Director of Operations, Technology and Innovation, said: “UKTV’s brand new VOD services mean we can better serve our fans, ensuring they can catch up on some of their favourite programmes while also accessing a selection of shows from our archive. These VOD services will also offer an incremental opportunity for advertisers to engage with our brands and thus present a new revenue opportunity for UKTV.”
Capablue said it had been involved in the development of the services.
The presence of the UKTV channels on DTT has helped the three make a major contribution to the company’s overall growth. Really, which replaced the Dave plus one hour channel on Freeview, has seen its audiences rise by a staggering 788%.