Since 2015, MHz Choice has been active in the SVOD space, providing U.S. and Canadian viewers with titles from MHz Networks\u2019 vast international catalog subtitled in English. As the VOD space has continued to expand in the past several years, so too has MHz Choice\u2019s offering, always with viewers\u2019 needs at the forefront of its strategy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have some very vocal viewers, and we listen to them,\u201d says Lance Schwulst, senior VP of content strategy at MHz Networks. \u201cWe take what they have to say to heart, and we try to respond accordingly.\u201d<\/p>\n
The service is currently operating with a weekly refresh rate. \u201cEvery Tuesday, we either add a new series, a new season to a preexisting series or additional episodes to an ongoing season,\u201d Schwulst explains. \u201cOur website is refreshed every week with new content.\u201d<\/p>\n
This content comes from MHz Networks\u2019 catalog, as well as a large stable of licensors that bring him what they know the platform wants.<\/p>\n
While the service does have titles spanning a wide range of genres, it is the crime space that particularly stands out. \u201cWe\u2019re pretty focused on crime, but we do venture out into some very popular dramas and comedies as well,\u201d he says. \u201cIf you look at the crime genre, there are different subgenres. We focus on the lighter side of crime, if you will.\u201d<\/p>\n
Instead of focusing on the crime itself, MHz Choice\u2019s crime offerings usually center on the resolution of cases and feature less violence. As the platform continues to grow its stable of programs in the genre, Schwulst notes that he would like the representation of victim demographics to be more equitable. \u201cWe want more male victims\u201d to be shown, he says. \u201cThere\u2019s a disproportionate amount of crime series where the victims are all young females. Yes, that\u2019s real life\u2014females are sadly more prone to become victims than males\u2014but this is television. Let\u2019s make it a bit more equitable and less misogynistic.\u201d<\/p>\n
An investment from Kino Lorber late last year has opened up a slew of new titles that may just fill Schwulst\u2019s wish list. With the partnership, \u201cwe have a huge library that we can draw on of films, and we certainly intend to exploit that when appropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n
This summer alone has already seen a steady influx of new programs, with a total of 15 series and nine returning shows set to land throughout the season. The French period mystery\u00a0Agatha Christie\u2019s Criminal Games: The \u201970s<\/em>\u00a0bowed on the SVOD last month, and the French anthology crime travelogue\u00a0Murder In<\/em>\u2026 debuted earlier this month. August will offer viewers even more choice: the Italian police drama\u00a0Don\u2019t Leave Me<\/em>, the South African series\u00a0Lioness<\/em>\u00a0and the Australian doomsday show\u00a0Preppers<\/em>. Returning titles include\u00a0Inspector Rex<\/em>,\u00a0Maigret<\/em>,\u00a0Captain Marleau<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Alice Nevers<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe run a very steady ship,\u201d Schwulst says. \u201cWe serve our viewers very well. We\u2019re just going to continue on that course, and try and refine what we do and do it better, more frequently and rely upon a shared knowledge base with Kino Lorber.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Lance Schwulst, senior VP of content strategy at MHz Networks, on responding to MHz Choice viewers\u2019 needs and frequently refreshing the platform\u2019s offering.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1412,"featured_media":18941,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[69,70],"tags":[7138,1648,1128],"class_list":["post-18939","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-profiles","category-top-stories","tag-lance-schwulst","tag-mhz-choice","tag-mhz-networks","pmpro-has-access"],"yoast_head":"\n