Streaming TV service fuboTV announced it is adding Viacom’s core networks and more, including BET, CMT, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Paramount Network, TV Land and VH1.
Those networks will be added to fuboTV’s base package. The service’s premier package, “fubo Extra,” will include BET Her, BET Jams, BET Soul, Logo, MTV2, MTV Classic, MTV Live, mtvU, Nick Music, Nicktoons and TeenNick. FuboTV’s Spanish-language base package, “fubo Latino,” will get Viacom’s Telefe and MTV Tr3s networks.
With this deal, Viacom is expanding its footprint on virtual MVPDs. The company already has deals in place with Dish Network’s Sling TV, AT&T’s DirecTV Now and Philo.
“FuboTV is quickly evolving as a major force in the streaming television space, and the addition of Viacom’s media networks as a cornerstone of fuboTV’s entertainment offering demonstrates the power and popularity of our global brands and programming,” said Tom Gorke, executive vice president and head of distribution and business development for Viacom, in a statement. “This is a great opportunity to continue to grow our reach and audiences across the OTT landscape and connect with our fans wherever they consume content.”
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“We’re very excited to enter into this strategic partnership with Viacom, which continues to make prescient and aggressive moves in the digital media space,” said Joel Armijo, CFO at fuboTV, in a statement. “Fubo remains singularly focused on offering sports fans a compelling pay TV alternative with a robust content offering able to serve the viewing needs of the entire household.”
Viacom announced a distribution deal with DirecTV Now back in October 2016 and the network group joined Sling TV earlier that same year. Viacom’s cable channels have yet to show up on Hulu with Live TV and YouTubeTV, the company has expressed optimism that deals would eventually be reached.
“We’re extremely well-represented in the traditional distributor lead virtual MVPDs, that’s Sling TV and DirecTV Now. And those are really the virtual MVPDs that matter,” said Viacom CFO Wade Davis at an investor conference last year. “We’d love to be on [Hulu and YouTube TV], we’re in discussions with those guys all the time and we’re optimistic that we’re going to … make progress with some of the virtual MVPDs that we’re not on.”
Viacom hasn’t been standing still in the OTT space, though. Earlier this year, Viacom announced plans to acquire ad-supported streaming service Pluto TV for $340 million.