Fuse Media has secured carriage for its Backstage FAST channel on Samsung TV Plus Mexico, marking the first time one of Fuse Media’s DEI-focused FAST channels has been dubbed for international distribution. The channels are already available in the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Denmark, India, Australia, France, and Canada.“It’s with great pride that we are launching Backstage as Fuse Media’s first service in Mexico and the first FAST channel we are dubbing for international territories,” Fuse Media Chairman and CEO Miguel Roggero said. “This launch is just the latest milestone in the growth of our successful DEI-focused FAST channels suite, and we’re excited to share this vibrant, inspirational service with Mexico’s music-loving audiences."
The debut of a Spanish-language version of Backstage follows the recent announcement that Fuse Media will be expanding its DEI-focused FAST portfolio with the addition of Somos Novelas, the only Spanish-language channel featuring novelas from around the world. The channel, in partnership with Big Media, will launch in 2024 and, along with Latino Vibes and El Rey Network, help create the most Latino-focused offering in FAST for advertisers looking to connect with the growing Hispanic audience.
Other services in the FAST channel suite include Shades of Black, one of the most widely distributed Black content channels in the FAST space; and OUTtv Proud, created in partnership with the world’s leading LGBTQ+ streaming service OUTtv. With over 200 hours of Spanish-language content available via the free streaming service Samsung TV Plus Mexico - which has been available on all Samsung Smart TVs since 2017 - Backstage is an all-access pass to both iconic superstars and artists on the rise. Featuring inspirational stories from creative visionaries who thrive in the spotlight, including Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift, and Snoop Dogg, Backstage brings you closer to the stars than ever before.
Domestically, Backstage has grown for thirteen straight quarters with Total Minutes watched posting double-digit year-to-year gains in 3Q23. Given the strong success of the channel, Fuse Media plans to debut a Spanish-language version of the brand, Backstage en Español, in the U.S. in the coming months. “Backstage has been a success since its launch five years ago, growing substantially in terms of viewership and distribution with each quarter,” Patrick Courtney, Head of Streaming & Business Development said. “Expanding our distribution as a fully dubbed channel to Mexico in partnership with Samsung further demonstrates the popularity of our FAST channels in multiple languages across the globe.”