In yet another interesting partnership as streamers fight for recognition and subscriber interest in a crowded marketplace, we see Vice Media Group send their free, ad-supported streaming channel, Vice FAST, to Fox’s streaming arm, Tubi. Blake & Wang P.A entertainment lawyer, Brandon Blake, shares the news.
200 Hours of New Programming
The deal was struck by Vice Distribution, and will include 200 hours of new programming as well as the FAST channel deal. This means that Most Expensivest, The Devil You Know and Dark Side of the Ring will also debut on Tubi, alongside the tech, sports, and food fare Vice FAST is known for.
The appeal on Vice’s side appears to be additional growth in the TV-connected sector, capitalizing on Fox’s existing linear and broadcast appeal. Vice has been pursuing new market opportunities quite voraciously over the last 18-months, even pulling its Sky-bundled packages in favor of AVOD streaming opportunities.
New Market Movement
The licensing sector has become a hotbed of deals and movement in the same time period, with many seeking to eke out their own corner of the increasingly crowded streaming space. Many of the best-favored deals, as exemplified by Roku’s growing sway over the market, have seen some combination of free and AVOD/FAST programming combined with capitalizing on growth in sectors not already flooded by premium-tier subscribers and the bloody battle to keep new subscriptions rolling in. Sony, too, is capitalizing on its lack of a homegrown streamer to push solid licensing deals with a variety of platforms.
Is this a passing phase, or a stronger indication of where future market leaders will be pushing their content? For now, it’s too early to tell, but it’s certainly indicative of a shift in how streaming and streamers are being viewed globally, and could well open up some interesting market opportunities along the way.
Film and Television 