Vivendi has announced the launch of its SVOD service Studio+ in the United States.
Studio+ is the first app dedicated to short form and premium content series designed for mobile devices and is now available for download on iOS via the Apple App Store and will soon be accessible on Android through Google Play.
First launched in Europe (in France and Italy), and Latin America in December 2016, Studio+ is a collaborative effort across Vivendi entertainment brands Canal+ Group and Universal Music Group, and is expanding across the globe.
According to research by the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), 60% of smartphone users watch short videos at least once a day on mobile devices. Meeting the expectations of today’s on-the-go generation that loves premium TV but rarely finds time to enjoy it, Studio+ offers the first-ever series designed for smartphones that can be watched anywhere, anytime. Its lineup of stories is brought to mobile screens in a 10X10 format—10 episodes that are 10 minutes each—which can be streamed or downloaded to watch on the go.
In conjunction with its U.S. launch, Studio+ will introduce a new original series, All You Need Is Me, and highlight Madame Hollywood, a show originally debuted in France:
The two series join the ranks of more than 30 compelling original shows on the Studio+ app, two of which, Crime Time and Ahi Afuera, are nominated for 2017 International Emmy Awards. All content is available in five languages, including English, Spanish and Italian.
“Recognising the industry’s need for premium, on-demand mobile content, we intentionally designed our STUDIO+ 10X10 format to advance today’s on-the-go viewing experience for the needs of our fast-paced generation,” said Dominique Delport, chairman of Vivendi Content.
“We have seen an impressive, widespread adoption by more than 5 million subscribers in other countries and believe now is an opportune time to bring the novel platform to an American audience hungry for authentic content and to combat the scarcity of high-end, scripted content in the short, convenient format that consumers desire.”
Upon download, Studio+ comes with a one-month free trial and viewers can subscribe to Studio+ for $3.99 per month.
