NBC Plans Streaming News Service Aimed at Younger Viewers
If NBC couldn’t attract streamers with comedy, maybe news will work.
While the broadcaster's last attempt at a streaming service didn’t end well (comedy subscription service SeeSo lasted under two years and was shuttered in November 2017), NBC now thinks news is the way to attract younger streamers. The company told reporters it's creating an online-only news service aimed at young people, and the service may debut in 2018 according to Andrew Lack, chairman of NBC News, quoted in Variety.
This won't be NBC's first experiment with online news streaming. The broadcaster is a major investor with Snap, and offers a news channel called "Stay Tuned" on Snapchat. The Los Angeles Times reports that "Stay Tuned" is seen by 33 million people each month, and three-quarters of the audience is under 25.
When the upcoming service launches, it will have plenty of online competition. CBS offers CBSN, which combines broadcast and online original content. Fox recently announced it will start a subscription service called Fox Nation. And Bloomberg streams original reporting on TicToc, a 24-hour video news channel available through Twitter.
The new service will be available to viewers who don't have a pay TV subscription. NBC hasn't decided yet if it will monetize the upcoming service through subscriptions, ads, or both.
Related Articles
Fans can tune in new versions of Battlestar Galactica, Saved By the Bell, and Punky Brewster, or watch familiar hits including The Office and Parks and Recreation.
17 Sep 2019
The network will join ABC, CBS, Cheddar, and others in providing an ad-supported live news option for viewers who don't have pay TV.
11 Mar 2019
Still in the planning stages, NBCU is reportedly creating a streaming video service that lets people trade their viewing time for points.
10 Aug 2018
Fake news creators have taken advantage of YouTube to spread malicious and uninformed clips. YouTube is joining with authoritative sources to fight back.
10 Jul 2018
Just days after its surprisingly good quarterly earnings report, Snap says it's getting in the Olympic spirit and making NBC its first live TV partner.
08 Feb 2018
It will now consider completion percentage when ranking videos, and put more weight behind long-form videos than shorter ones.
27 Jan 2017
With an impressive roster of online originals and broadcast favorites, Seeso hopes to satisfy comedy lovers for $3.99 per month.
16 Oct 2015