UKTV Launching Trio of VOD Services

LONDON: UKTV is entering the VOD market with the launch of three branded on-demand players for the free-to-air channels Dave, Yesterday and Really.

The bespoke VOD services will provide access to catch-up and archive programming that can be viewed via the networks’ branded channel websites. The service for Dave will feature programs such as Red Dwarf X, Suits and Dara O’Briain: School of Hard Sums. The offering from Yesterday includes Museum Secrets, Mafia’s Greatest Hits and Fight Club: A History of Violence. Really’s VOD player will feature Hart of Dixie and Embarrassing Bodies, among others.

Darren Childs, the CEO of UKTV, commented: “UKTV is investing more money in content than ever before and it is important we are servicing our viewers by enabling them to access Dave, Yesterday and Really directly for the very first time, through our On Demand Players—three vibrant and curated, direct to viewer, player services.

“Part catch-up and part-archive, On Demand will offer the best of these populist channels—whether catching up on the brand-new Red Dwarf X at Dave On Demand, or watching the top-rating factual series Museum Secrets all over again on Yesterday On Demand.”

Ben Hine, UKTV’s director of operations, technology and innovation, added: “UKTV’s brand-new VOD services mean we can better serve our fans, ensuring they can catch up on some of their favorite programs while also accessing a selection of shows from our archive. These VOD services will also offer an incremental opportunity for advertisers to engage with our brands and thus present a new revenue opportunity for UKTV.”