David Lynn
As announced on the ViacomCBS Q2 Earnings call this Thursday, August 6th, ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI), a division of ViacomCBS Inc., is launching a premium streaming service internationally, appealing to audiences of all ages with a competitively priced and super-sized selection of ‘must-see’ exclusives, premieres and box-sets from ViacomCBS’s much-loved entertainment brands.
The new SVOD service will start its international roll-out early in 2021, offering exclusive premieres of all-new Showtime series, including Halo and American Rust. CBS All Access originals will also premiere exclusively on the new service. Building a bespoke content offering in select major territories from launch, the service will also combine movies from Paramount Pictures and premieres and box sets from Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, and Paramount Network, as well as originals from ViacomCBS International Studios in some markets.
“Launching a super-sized premium streaming service will be a game-changer for ViacomCBS and can help us become as powerful a player in international streaming as we are in linear TV. We will market a world-class content offering at a very competitive price, and we’re convinced it will have significant appeal for audiences everywhere and strong growth potential in every market,” commented David Lynn, president, and CEO of VCNI.
Launch priority will be given in 2021 to fast-growing OTT markets where ViacomCBS has identified the opportunity to become a leader in paid-for streaming based on its competitive position. These include Australia; Latin America, including Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico; and, the Nordic countries.
“With more than 200 million new streaming subscriptions due to come online internationally by 2025, we’re very confident we can build a meaningful subscriber base in the next few years. ViacomCBS is one of a very small handful of elite content companies with broad enough content pipelines and deep enough content libraries to lead in all segments of the video entertainment market,” added Pierluigi Gazzolo, president, Streaming for VCNI.
