NBCUniversal to launch dedicated reality TV streaming service
Reality TV junkies will soon hit the mother lode after NBCUniversal announced plans to launch a dedicated streaming service focussed exclusively on the maligned format; including hits such as Keeping up with the Kardashians, The Real Housewives and made in Chelsea.
Hayu will launch next month in the UK, Ireland and Australia offering unlimited access to 3,000 individual episodes for the sum of £3.99 a month.
Designed to weed out illegal viewing of US content abroad, the paid for service will be expanded to around 150 separate shows by the end of the year.
Kevin MacLellan, chairman of NBCUniversal International said: “We are one of largest producers of unscripted content in the world. We have multiple [TV] channels in the US, and much of that is reality shows.
“We have some very big shows in the US. They don’t air in some markets, or do so in a small way. However, we see a massive amount of online activity around them, as well as tweets and press coverage, even when a show doesn’t air in a particular country. [Hayu] will help develop brands in the way many other services have not done.”
The new service will seek to marry TV with social media channels such as Twitter and Facebook as a means to drive engagement; particularly amongst the target demographic of 16-39 year old women.