IMDb TV

IMDb TV is an American ad-supported streaming service owned by Amazon. The service first launched in January 2019 as IMDb Freedive.[1]

IMDb TV
IndustryEntertainment
FoundedJanuary 11, 2019
HeadquartersSeattle, WA
ParentAmazon
Websiteimdb TV at amazon.com

History

IMDb TV launched as a free, ad-supported video channel by the Amazon-owned online database IMDb in January 2019, under the name IMDb Freedive. The free video on demand (VOD) service was available on both Amazon and IMDb's websites as well as on all Amazon Fire devices.[2]

On June 17, 2019, IMDb Freedive announced its rebrand to IMDb TV, confirming it would triple its content selection. Signing new deals with Warner Bros., Sony Pictures Entertainment and MGM Studios, the streaming service offered new content.[3]

The rebrand was set to further ramp up Amazon's ad-supported video strategy, with brands like AT&T, Procter & Gamble, Verizon and PepsiCo running 15- and 30-second advertisement spots within IMDb TV's movies and shows.[4]

Amazon announced that it would be moving IMDb TV's content team within Amazon Studios on February 20, 2020, with the goal of developing original programming under new IMDb TV co-heads.[5]

Content

Original programming

A reboot of the 2008 crime drama series Leverage was ordered by IMDb TV, making it the first major original series for the streaming service.[6]

On October 3, 2019, IMDb TV announced it licensed the Canadian animated series Corner Gas Animated as a branded original series, joining the live-action comedy franchise Corner Gas and the feature film Corner Gas: The Movie, which were both on the streaming platform.[7]

IMDb TV acquired the rights to Eleventh Hour Films and Sony Pictures Television's young-adult espionage series Alex Rider, which premiered on the streaming platform on November 13, 2020.[8]

On October 29, 2020, Amazon announced Amazon Studios would produce the successor program to Judge Judy for the service after the long-running court show ends production in 2021.[9]

Third-party content

IMDb TV announced it would begin streaming the NBC show Chicago Fire on December 6, 2019, making the deal the biggest single licensing pact to date for the streaming service. In addition, IMDb TV announced it would also begin streaming all five seasons of Universal Television's Friday Night Lights starting on December 31, 2019.[10]

In February 2020, IMDb TV acquired the rights to more than twenty scripted TV titles controlled by Disney's Direct-to-Consumer & International Division.

IMDB TV began streaming several Star Trek films in June and July 2020.

Starting July 15, 2020, IMDb TV began streaming all 92-episodes of the AMC series Mad Men after completing a licensing deal with Lionsgate.[11][12]

References
  1. "Amazon's IMDb launches a free streaming service, Freedive". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
  2. Brantner, Chris. "IMDb Freedive: A Look at Amazon's Free Streaming Service". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  3. "Amazon Rebrands IMDb Freedive as IMDb TV, Triples Content". PCMAG. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  4. "Amazon Ramps Up Ad-Supported Video, With Implications For Competitors". eMarketer. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  5. Low, Elaine (2020-02-20). "IMDb TV Moves Content Team to Amazon Studios Under New Co-Heads". Variety. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  6. "Leverage is returning as IMDb's first original series". Critical Hit. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  7. "IMDb TV Gets Top-Rated Canadian Animated Series – Media Play News". Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  8. Kanter, Jake (2020-07-14). "'Alex Rider': Amazon Streamer IMDb TV Takes U.S. Rights To Sony Spy Series". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  9. Frankel, Daniel (29 October 2020). "Judge Judy Sheindlin Gets New Show on Amazon's IMDb TV". Next TV.
  10. Spangler, Todd (2019-12-06). "Amazon's IMDb TV to Stream 'Chicago Fire' Past Seasons, 'Friday Night Lights' for Free (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  11. Andreeva, Nellie (2020-07-01). "'Mad Men' Rights Sold To Amazon/IMDb TV Globally, AMC & Starzplay In Complex Licensing Deal Made By Lionsgate". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  12. Thorne, Will (2020-07-01). "'Mad Men' Sets Streaming Pact With Amazon, Starzplay and AMC". Variety. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
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