TORONTO – Looking to steal a little of shomi’s thunder, Bell Media announced a few more details on its own new video streaming service, currently code-named "Project Latte".
The subscription on-demand service promised to deliver more than 10,000 hours of non-kids TV programming, including some 350 unique TV titles, at its yet unconfirmed launch date. Count on that to include a heavy dose of HBO content after Bell Media last month locked down the Canadian multi-platform rights to HBO's complete off-air catalogue of television programming.
Bell Media said that Project Latte, designed to complement traditional television, will be made available to all TV subscribers in the country, pending agreements with participating TV providers, on their traditional set-top box, as well as via mobile apps, the web, and other platforms including game consoles and Smart TVs.
Sources tell Cartt.ca that the service will charge a sliding-scale price and library availability based on how much “regular” TV users currently subscribe to. That will make it supportive of, and not competitive with, the incumbent bundle, in addition to reducing the risk for Bell.
In addition to hits like The Sopranos and Sex And The City, Project Latte will stock other HBO series such as Six Feet Under, Band Of Brothers, Entourage, and Deadwood, as well as HBO’s films catalogue, its documentaries library and its lineup of stand-up comedy specials starring big names like George Carlin, Robin Williams and Ellen DeGeneres.
Bell Media said that Project Latte's complete lineup will also include content from all “key Hollywood major and independent studios”, and be revealed in the weeks to come.
"We built Project Latte as a complementary service that will delight and amaze viewers with thousands of hours of premium entertainment available on-demand and on the device of their choice," said Bell Media president Kevin Crull, in the news release. "Project Latte addresses a significant gap in the Canadian TV system and allows TV providers to greatly enhance the value they provide to their clients."
