Quibi, a new contender in the streaming wars, will launch April 6 with 50 series and movies, The Verge reports. The new streaming platform’s lineup includes both scripted and unscripted content, with an emphasis on the latter.
Quibi has divided its content into three categories. “Daily essentials,” the bulk of the streaming service’s content, are largely unscripted series produced in partnership with companies like ESPN and Rotten Tomatoes. The topics of these shows range from news to sports to pop culture. 25 of Quibi’s 50 films and series are daily essentials.
The next category, “unscripted originals,” are series produced solely by Quibi. Celebrities like Chrissy Teigen, Idris Elba and Hasan Minhaj will appear on these series. 19 of Quibi’s series are unscripted originals.
The final and smallest category is “lighthouse” productions, named so because Quibi wants to draw viewers to this original content. Lighthouse productions are feature films divided into short segments. These films feature well-known actors like Inglourious Basterds star Christoph Waltz, Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again star Andy Garcia. Four of the streaming platform’s 50 films and series fall under this category.
Quibi lacks the name recognition of its more established competitors, which include Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video. The star power in its original content is an effort to combat this. Viewers might be more likely to give a relatively unknown streaming platform a chance when its first 50 series and films feature A-list actors, singers and athletes.
Quibi viewers will receive a 90-day free trial, which is longer than what Disney+ and Netflix currently offer. After the trial, the streaming service will cost $4.99 a month with ads or $7.99 a month ad-free. It launches April 6.