Stirr

Stirr is an American ad-supported streaming service owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group.

Stirr
Type of site
streaming multi-channel platform
OwnerSinclair Broadcast Group
URLstirr.com
CommercialYes
Launched16 January 2019 (2019-01-16)
Current statusActive

The streaming service is available on the web and via apps for iOS, Android devices and various streaming TV devices, including Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Roku.

History

Sinclair Broadcast Group began developing its technological infrastructure for the service before July 2017. The Stirr streaming service was announced by Sinclair in October 2018.

Sinclair hired Scott Ehrlich to head up the service and hired staff in Los Angeles and Seattle.[1] Ehrlich is the Vice President of Emerging Platform Content at Sinclair.[2] Stirr was launched on January 16, 2019[3] via a website and apps for iPhones, Android devices and various streaming TV devices,[3] Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Roku.[4] With the pending acquisition of the Fox Sports Networks, Sinclair indicated that they were looking at synergies between Stirr and those RSNs.[5]

Channels

Stirr draws on programming from the Sinclair TV stations and other streaming live channels although some programming is available on demand.[3] Although there are several US city regions to choose from when navigating the service, users do not have any geographic restrictions on what they can view.[6] There were 20 national channels at launch on January 16, 2019[4] with expectations of having 50 by the end of the year.[6]

Stirr City is the primary streaming channel which pulls content based on the location/station selected. When network programming runs on the local OTA channel, Stirr City carries an alternate schedule drawing from the other Stirr channels. WJLA-TV of Washington, D.C. is set as the default if no Sinclair news-carrying station is nearby.[3]

Additionally, Stirr has a number of private label channels, which at launch consisted of Stirr Movies, Stirr Sports and Stirr Life.[4] In addition, the service carries TV networks that Sinclair owns or hold a stake in like Comet, Stadium and The T.[7] Also, Stirr has TV series based channels.[8][9] Some outside-produced channels are present on the platform, including Buzzr, which Stirr stated was the most popular channel on the platform as of July 2019.[10]

Business

Stirr general manager is Adam Ware.[7] Sinclair vice president of emerging platform content is Scott Ehrlich,[6] under whom the streaming service was built.[1]

While currently free, Sinclair plans on adding a premium pay tier of programming.[1] Sinclair Digital, Compulse and Sinclair’s local stations would coordinated between them with ad revenue shared with content partners.[4] Sinclair promotes Compulse, Sinclair's digital advertising unit, through its local stations. Although Stirr is composed of Sinclair owned streams and stations, Sinclair has its own streaming platform, Hummingbird, as well.[7]

References
  1. Bloom, David (December 6, 2018). "Sinclair's Ripley STIRRs The Pot For New National, Localized Streaming Service". Forbes. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  2. "Netflix Turns Up Heat In Online Video's Shark Pool As Three More Services Jump In". TV[R]EV. 2019-01-17. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  3. Anderson, Mae (January 16, 2019). "Sinclair debuts Stirr streaming service for its local TV stations". USA Today. Associated Press. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  4. Perez, Sarah (January 16, 2019). "TV broadcaster Sinclair launches STIRR, a free streaming service with local news and sports". TechCrunch. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  5. Hayes, Dade (May 8, 2019). "Sinclair Looking To Add Live Sports Broadcasts To Its STIRR Streaming Service". Deadline. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  6. Littleton, Cynthia (January 16, 2019). "Sinclair Enters Streaming Arena With Entertainment Bundle and Local Channels". Variety. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  7. Lafayette, Jon (January 16, 2019). "Sinclair Launching Stirr With National, Local Programming". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  8. Bouma, Luke (July 20, 2019). "Stirr Just Added Three New Channels to Its Lineup". Cord Cutters News. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  9. Bouma, Luke (October 26, 2019). "The Free Streaming Service STIRR Has Added 6 New Channels to Its Lineup". Cord Cutters News. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  10. Bouma, Luke (July 17, 2019). "Sinclair's Free Stirr Streaming Service Plans to Add 12 New Channels & Hits 1 Million Downloads". Cord Cutters News. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
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