Discovery Inc.’s new streaming service Discovery+ is set to launch in the United States this week on services and platforms like Amazon Fire TV and Roku. The media company has a U.S. distribution deal with Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) that will make its service available to 50 million customers on the first day. The service will also be available to Vodafone TV and mobile customers in 12 European markets with varied promotions depending on each market, as per reports.
Depending on the customer’s plans, the service will be free for up to 12 months for new and existing Verizon customers. For others, it will cost $4.99 per month with ads, or $6.99 per month ad-free and will feature unscripted programming including 55,000 episodes from Discovery channels including Food Network, HGTV, and Animal Planet.
Verizon has also played a major role in the success of Walt Disney Co’s Disney+ streaming service since its launch in November 2019 by making it available to millions of wireless customers.
Discovery’s rivals Peacock and HBO Max launched earlier this year faced challenges as AT&T Inc-owned WarnerMedia launched HBO MAX this year in May, but remained unavailable on Roku and Amazon initially challenging its growth. HBO Max was available on Amazon Fire TV and Fire tablets by Nov. 17 and a month later on the Roku platform. Similarly, Comcast Corp-owned NBC Universal’s Peacock streaming service was launched on July 15 but was available on Roku from Sept. 21, but still remains unavailable on Amazon Fire TV.
“Maybe the sort of sexy red carpet stuff is some of the movies and scripted series, but more than 50% of what people watch is our stuff,” “And we’re one of one. There are six or seven players in the scripted series and scripted movies so each one of them is one of five or one of six or one of seven.” stated Discovery Chief Executive Officer David Zaslav in an interview.
Discovery+ has already launched in India, the U.K., and Ireland and will eventually be available in 25 countries. It has also distribution deals with Telecom Italia in Italy, British broadcaster Sky in the UK & Ireland, and Megogo in Eastern Europe.
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