The Drum Awards for Marketing - Extended Deadline

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By Natan Edelsburg, SVP

May 19, 2015 | 3 min read

We're living in a TV world with a limited number of connected TV devices that are popular and well used on the market. Whether you have an Apple TV, a Roku, a Google Chromecast or an Amazon Fire - each option is limited in some capacity. Also, with many of them it's not easy or possible to access free over the air television. Mohu, a startup based out of Raleigh, North Carolina has released Channels a connected TV device that's poised to aggressively compete with the others.

According to the company, "Channels was built to make TV viewing open and flexible, giving users the ability to include content from countless sources and organize it as they see fit without acting like a walled content garden or imposing subscription-based fees." Here are some the highlights of the device.

Mohu Channels universal remote – "The QWERTY backlit keyboard and built-in air mouse are specifically designed to make searching for new content online easier for users."

Time-shifting – "Allows users to store up to 30 minutes of television, giving them the ability to pause, rewind or fast forward OTA TV shows at their convenience." They're also considering building a more robust DVR capability.

Side-loading – "Allows users to view their own video content contained in any USB-connected storage device."

Easy access to free over the air television - remember that the basic TV channels are free (now in HD) over the air with an antenna. Mohu also makes an amazing indoor antenna that you can connect to your Channels for incorporating into the experience.

Customized TV playlist - or as they used to say in the old days, TV guide, where you can setup a list of streaming apps or traditional channels to access in the order you want.

"Cord cutting has gained massive momentum and is a reality for millions of Americans today," said Mark Buff, founder and president of Mohu in the recent announcement. "We are on a mission to give cord cutters the widest array of options they need to watch TV seamlessly at a price they can afford," he added. The device can be purchased for $99. If you'd like to add an antenna to your purchase it's an additional $30 or $100 depending on which you choose.

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