Vidgo has quietly launched a new premium programming package that combines its English- and Spanish-language channels into a single offering.
The package, called Vidgo Ultimate, offers more than 160 local and cable networks from a variety of programming partners, including TelevisaUnivision, Fox Corporation, the Discovery side of Warner Bros Discovery, A+E Networks, Paramount Global, the Walt Disney Company, Azteca America and others for $100 a month.
In an interview with Fierce Video on Thursday, Vidgo Chief Executive Officer Derek Mattsson said the new programming package is a natural progression of Vidgo's mission to reach audiences that are typically underserved by virtual multichannel video providers (vMVPDs) on the market.
While other virtual MVPDs offer Spanish language channels as part of an add-on package, Vidgo is one of the few streaming cable television alternatives to offer those channels in a package of its own (Vidgo Mas, which costs $40 a month for around four dozen Spanish channels).
Mattsson said feedback from customers indicated that many of its customers were bilingual, and might be attracted to a package that offered both English and Spanish language networks.
"Our research shows that these types of homes watch more linear TV and spend more hours watching TV," Mattsson said. "So, it made sense to provide them with a broader lineup of programming."
Other third party research also shows that Spanish-language households are gravitating toward streaming services as the price of traditional cable and satellite packages continues to go up. Data released by Horowitz and reported by Fierce Video this summer showed nearly two out of five Latinx TV viewers have ditched cable and satellite for streaming only.
Analysts for Horowitz wrote that Latinx households "want access to both Spanish/Latinx-themed and English language mainstream content," which further supports the idea that a linear programming package comprised of English and Spanish channels could do well for Vidgo.
In addition to its Spanish-language programming, Vidgo has made other improvements over the last year as part of a broader effort to reach underserved TV viewers, particularly those who live in America's heartland.
In September, Vidgo announced it was overhauling its service to place greater emphasis on the college sports and cable news programming that is offered from its content partners, including Fox (which operates Fox News Channel and the Big 10 Network), TelevisaUnivision, the Walt Disney Company (whose sports division, ESPN, operates and distributes the SEC Network, AAC Network and Longhorn Network) and others.
Vidgo also expanded on a licensing deal with former Fox News Channel personality Bill O'Reilly that saw the launch of the service's first original program, "Shock & Awe." The show is distributed along with O'Reilly's other topical news and opinion show, "No Spin News."