In an attempt to compete with Roku TV’s Roku Channel, NBCUniversal has partnered with LG Smart-TV to launch a new line of 40 “Fast” Channels. Per Deadline, these new services will be offered for free with ads on the LG Channel platform. New content will include entertainment, news, sports, Spanish-language, and true-crime, not to mention new access to shoppable content directly from the television.
Going live soon will be content such as Little House On The Prairie, Murder, She Wrote, and Saved By The Bell, alongside classic films from Universal Pictures plus genre-based Action, Crime, and Monster movies. Currently available for streaming are NBC News Now, Today All Day, Dateline 24/7, and SNL Vault.
Deadline confirms there will be past seasons of shows like Million Dollar Listing, The Real Housewives, and Top Chef available some time later. The bundle will also include Spanish-language news and entertainment from NBCU-owned Telemundo. To top it all off, they will also be offering local news and sports programming
In a play to streamline the shopping experience from the advert straight to your pocket book, both LG and NBCU have offered up technologies such as Checkout and “webOS pay,” respectively. Products will be suggested based on the viewing content and available for purchase by mobile device or using the remote.
Via Deadline, Matthew Durgin, VP of LG content and services at LG Electronics USA says, “We’re excited to deepen our partnership with NBCUniversal and bring even more premium content to LG Channels.” Deadline continued to quote, “With the addition of NBCUniversal’s renowned programming, we’re enhancing the LG Channels experience and furthering our commitment to delivering exceptional value to our customers.”
This blooming partnership between the streaming services stems from a content licensing agreement that saw the highly acclaimed legal drama Suits available for the first time for free with ads on the “Fast” platform.
Deadline also breaks that Bruce Casino, EVP, Sales and Distribution – US, NBCUniversal TV Distribution, says, “Whether it’s hugely popular classics like Little House on the Prairie, iconic comedies like Will & Grace, or legendary films from Universal Pictures, there’s truly something for everyone.”
