TORONTO – Independent ISP and TV service provider VMedia Thursday announced the launch of RiverTV, Canada’s first live TV and on-demand streaming channel platform.
Such services are known as virtual multichannel video programming distributors in the United States (such as Sling TV, PlayStation Vue, AT&T TV Now and others) but in Canada, the company is sticking with our own vernacular, so RiverTV is a vBDU, or virtual broadcast distribution undertaking.
Like conventional BDUs, and VMedia TV is one of those, RiverTV packages top specialty channels Canadian programming groups including Corus, Blue Ant Media, Channel Zero and Wildbrain, as well as a variety of American channels, but not the traditional broadcasters like CBS, ABC, NBC or Fox.
RiverTV features a bundle of over 30 channels with thousands of hours of original programming, for only $16.99 a month.
The channel line-up offers a mix of shows and movies from Global TV stations, CHCH, W Network, Showcase, Teletoon, YTV, Treehouse, History, Adult Swim, Family, Slice, Smithsonian Channel Canada, Crime & Investigation and many more.
There are no Rogers Media or Bell Media owned channels being offered at launch. The company hopes to come to a carriage arrangement with those two broadcasters.
Subscribers will also receive seven U.S. live and VOD streaming channels that are bundled only on RiverTV: Cheddar, Drink TV, Law & Crime, Newsmax, Newsy, Real Vision and Revolt, with more channels to be available in the upcoming months.
Users will also be able to add other channels a-la-carte, including Hollywood Suite, i24NEWS and Nick+ (coming soon), with others coming over the next several months.
Taking aim at cord-cutting Canadians and others looking for a more affordable live TV solution, RiverTV is available coast to coast and requires no cable-boxes or wires, and launches with a free trial period and no contract commitments. RiverTV customers do not need to take broadband service from VMedia in order to receive it, which is a key differentiator to “light” TV services already in the market such as Bell’s Alt TV and Telus’ Pik TV, where customers must also subscribe to Bell or Telus broadband services.
“Access to live TV has never been easier,” said Alexei Tchernobrivets, CEO of VMedia. “Everyone gets a free trial, with no obligation, by signing up at www.rivertv.ca. Then just download the RiverTV app to any Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Edition smart TV, Apple or Android TV device, and start watching,” he added.
Apps for Android mobile and a web-based service are coming soon.
RiverTV features a live, modern TV guide, personalization and Look Back TV, where customers can watch previously aired content up to seven days back. It also offers pause and resume – which allows users to pick up where they left off, and restart, which allows users to go back to the beginning of a show already in progress. Shows can be streamed on three devices simultaneously.
The service is also integrated with Siri and other search platforms, which enhances program discoverability through electronic programming guides and on demand catalogue integration.
“RiverTV is a terrific new choice particularly for adults aged 20-44 and families with young children, who consume video online or who watch traditional live TV,” said George Burger, co-founder of VMedia, in the release. “Underserved Canadian consumers finally have a cable-free, lower cost, live TV option, with thousands of hours of video-on-demand.”
RiverTV is VMedia’s latest attempt at disrupting the Canadian TV business. The company has been shot down by the courts or CRTC for trying new things on at least a couple of occasions, including when Bell launched a lawsuit after VMedia launched a skinny BDU on the Roku platform in 2016.
