Qwest TV by Quincy Jones is launching on Amazon Fire TV, expands in Japan, and introduces a new education partnerships programme.
Qwest TV is the world’s first subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) platform dedicated to jazz and related music forms founded by music legend Quincy Jones in collaboration with French jazz impresario and television producer Reza Ackbaraly.
“It’s been incredible to watch our Qwest TV community grow far and wide over the past two year,” reflects Ackbaraly. “Deeply rooted in jazz values, Qwest TV bridges cultures and celebrates cultural mixes. We share music that blends the world heartbeats and inspirations. Qwest TV’s programming aims at inspiring shared colorful futures.”
The platform launched in December 2017 and offers over 750 hours of music programmes (concerts, documentaries, interviews, archives) and 50 original premium programmes available (on Desktop, iOS & Android Mobile & Tablet devices). Subscriptions are available for a monthly fee of $9,99 or Yearly for $99.
“We are thrilled to launch Qwest TV on Amazon Fire TV, one of the leading services in the OTT world, and give access to our content anytime, anywhere, on any devices, including television,” says Ackbaraly.
“This deal is the first in a long series of forthcoming content distribution deals we are in the process of closing for 2020.”
While Qwest TV is currently available in over 50 countries, the platform has launched in Japan on December 15, 2019. In addition to the platform’s current content offerings , Qwest TV Japan will offer 200 programmes curated specifically for the local market. Each program will feature video-related information translated to Japanese, as well as the original liner notes. Content will be added on a daily basis following launch date. The platform will also feature upcoming playlists by Japan’s major music clubs (including Blue Note Tokyo, Cotton Club and Motion Blue) developed around their scheduled forthcoming acts.
“Jazz content and music in general has significant appeal to the Japanese market historically,” adds Ackbaraly. “This is a natural addition for us, especially through a localized version of Qwest TV with strong local partners such as Blue Note, Motion Blue and Cotton Club.”
Events celebrating the platform’s launch in Japan will be announced in the coming days, presented in partnership with Rittor Music and supported by their publication, Jazz Guitar Magazine.
Commemorating its second anniversary, Qwest TV also announces a new education partnership program with select universities worldwide, offering students enrolled in participating schools complete access to Qwest TV for free. Initial university partners include Princeton University, The University of the Arts, University of Central Oklahoma, Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel, and University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, with additional schools to be announced in the coming months.
“Knowledge is one of the most important tools we can equip our youth with, because once you have given them the opportunity to learn something new, no one can ever take that away,” states Quincy Jones.
In addition to these latest announcements, Qwest TV continues to add new content which supports its new slogan, “From Be-Bop to Hip-Hop,” to reflect its further expansion of content offerings in additional jazz-related musical genres such as hip-hop, R&B, soul, and world music.
New content coinciding with Qwest TV’s programming expansion will include original programmes such as De La Soul (Live in France), an Aretha Franklin Tribute programme featuring Antibalas, José James, Bettye LaVette and more, the Gospel According to Al Green, Black Wax (Gil Scott Heron) and many more.
