A new streaming app from Viacom makes BET available on demand via smartphone and tablet to fans of black culture in 100 countries.
Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) has launched BET Play, Viacom’s first-ever direct-to-consumer, subscription video on demand (SVOD) application, offering English-language BET content on their iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, as well as AirPlay-enabled television sets, without the need for a broader pay TV subscription. BET Play costs $3.99 a month, with a seven-day free trial.
The launch of the BET Play streaming app is timed to coincide with this year’s 2016 BET Awards, Red Carpet.
“The launch of BET Play significantly expands the brand’s geographic availability by making it available direct to consumer in many markets where it has not previously had an established presence on TV,” said Michael D. Armstrong, EVP and general manager, international brand development, Viacom International Media Networks.
BET Play is the latest addition to the Viacom Play Plex suite of mobile TV apps, which offer smartphone and tablet users around the world access to the best content from all of Viacom’s international TV brands, anytime and anywhere.
First launched in the fourth quarter of 2015, the Viacom Play Plex apps are available to launch in every one of the 180 international territories in which Viacom owns and operates TV channels. There are separate mobile Play apps for each of Viacom’s major international TV channel brands – Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Paramount Channel, Spike and BET – offering video-on-demand access to a range of current and library content, as well as a live, local linear stream of the relevant channel, and other content including games for Nick Play.
To date, Play Plex apps are available in more than 40 markets, have been downloaded more than eight million times and streamed 150 million times.
“We’ve seen incredible interest in, and uptake of, our Play Plex suite of apps, which have completely exceeded our expectations,” said Bob Bakish, president and CEO, Viacom International Media Networks.
“These products give our audiences the content they want, how they want it, and offer VIMN the flexibility to adapt to a particular market, partner or brand’s needs.”
