Vimeo is branching out and wants to start selling TV series and short films. The new streaming service has launched in 150 countries and offers pay-per-view TV shows such as ‘Mad Men’, ‘Orange is the New Black’ and ‘Black Sails’.
Vimeo launches TV store
With the new streaming service Vimeo is selling TV series and shows either as separate episodes or full seasons – it is not a subscription service. One of the launch titles is Mad Men that sells for $9,99 per season and $2,99 per episode. Some titles are also available for rent.
Vimeo is probably best known as a free streaming service that in some ways resemble YouTube as it allows content creators to upload videos. With the new storefront the company is hoping to sell premium content from established studios such as Lionsgate and Starz.
Titles include ‘Mad Men’, ‘Orange is the New Black’, ‘The Royals’, ‘Weeds’, ‘Nurse Jackie’, ‘Boss’, ‘Blue Mountain State’, ‘Boss’ and ‘Manhattan’. Titles from Starz such as ‘Black Sails’ and ‘Ash vs. Evil Dead’ will be added in the coming weeks, says Vimeo.
You can watch purchased content via the standard Vimeo app that is available on Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, Xbox, Fire TV, select Smart TVs, iPhone/iPad, Android, and PC/Mac via the browser. You can only purchase content via the website and Roku. This has to do with the fact that many companies charge a fee for apps selling content.
Content is available in HD quality. Subtitles are typically available in English but sometimes also French, Portuguese, Spanish, and German. Vimeo will of course have to expand choice drastically if it hopes to compete internationally.
No blockbuster movies, lower prices
With the new streaming service Vimeo has decided to focus on TV series and short films instead of Hollywood blockbusters, and thus avoiding going directly head-to-head with Apple iTunes, Vudu, Amazon and Google Play Movies. However, all of the competitors are also offering TV shows so Vimeo has some convincing to do.
Looking at prices, Vimeo apparently hopes to undercut its competitors. A full season of Mad Men for example is half price compared to Amazon. Vimeo also hopes to get ahead of its competitors in international regions as it has launched the new storefront in 150 countries from the start.
You can check out Vimeo’s new storefront at vimeo.com/tvstore.
- Source: Vimeo via Techcrunch