Cinedigm has launched a new Cineverse streaming service today which can be accessed via the website or on a supported device by downloading the app. There is no shortage of streaming services for consumers to choose from, but Cinedigm hopes its new offering will stand out from the crowd by focusing on access to an extensive library and newer technologies that are designed to improve the streaming experience.
In spite of the increased competition, Cinedigm says that “several fundamental areas” are being ignored by the major streaming services. In one such example, Cinedigm points to the tendency for services to streamline their libraries and too heavily focus on big budget content. As a result, according to Cinedigm, “hundreds of thousands of films and series are not available to consumers”. The idea here is that many of these currently ignored films and shows will be available via Cineverse. In fact, the company says the end goal is “to build the world’s largest film and television library.”
Another area in which Cinedigm says is a problem for consumers is the increasing price of subscriptions. To counter this issue, Cineverse is currently offered as a free service with ads used to generate revenue. Speaking of which, Cinedigm appears to be acutely aware of the repetitive ad issue and plans to ensure consumers don’t have to sit through repeat ads quite so often. It should be noted that this free version is only one tier, as it is understood that a paid subscription option will eventually be made available as well.
In terms of what’s available now, the free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service offers access to a wide selection of on-demand titles. There is also a number of free linear channels available as well, including The Bob Ross Channel, CONtv, Docurama, and The Dove Channel, among others.
As mentioned, the service can be directly accessed by downloading the app or visiting the new Cineverse website. However, only the iOS, Android and Roku apps are currently available, with Cinedigm explaining that Fire TV, Apple TV, and Android TV apps, along with dedicated apps for Samsung, Vizio, and LG smart TVs, will become available over the next quarter.
