AMC Networks has become the latest programmer to develop an SVOD platform.
As first reported by Variety, the company is beta-testing Shudder, a streaming service that specializes in horror films such as Korean hit A Tale of Two Sisters, enduring vampire classic Nosferatu and Swedish vampire cult film Let the Right One In. More than 200 films are available for streaming.
AMC has not revealed when the platform will officially launch, but it did say it will be available for iOS and Android mobile devices, as well as Roku in the living room.
AMC has been inviting those who have signed up for the platform's pre-launch beta to try it for free for two months. When the platform does launch, Shudder will be asking subscribers to pay $4.99 a month--the same price A+E Networks set for its Lifetime Movie Club SVOD service, which was announced last week.
A+E Networks and AMC aren't the only players that are moving forward with services that don't require a pay-TV subscription. In recent months, Nickelodeon has launched a $5.99 SVOD stand-alone service, Noggin, targeted to kids. And HBO and Showtime have both launched streaming stand-alone products, with the latter pay-cable programmer's service launching today.
Programmers claim these SVOD services are complimentary to their linear cable channels, targeting a segment of users who subscribe to broadband but not pay-TV with a limited selection of content.
To launch its platform, AMC partnered with Softbank-owned video platform Dramafever, which already helped AMC relaunch its SundanceNow streaming service last year.
For more:
- read this Variety story
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