REDBOX LAUNCHES A FREE, AD-SUPPORTED STREAMING VIDEO SERVICE

Redbox Free Live TV, the company’s new streaming video service, made its launch official this week, and it plans to significantly expand its lineup throughout 2020. In detail, the service went live on Tuesday on Redbox’s website, as well as on the Redbox app for Roku devices, Android, iOS, Apple TV, Vizio SmartCast TVs, and LG smart TVs.

Redbox Live TV is launching with nearly 30 channels – three Redbox branded channels and a partner lineup including FilmRise, Unsolved Mysteries, Forensic Files, USA Today, NowThis, Dove Channel, Filmhub, and Fail Army. The company said it plans to add another 10 channels each month, which would give it more than 100 channels by the end of the year.

While it’s called “live TV,” the Redbox service for now does not include any traditional cable or broadcast TV channels or programming. It’s a mixture of some older movies and television shows, coupled with short-form Internet videos. None of the content-licensing deals are exclusive.

“The expansion of Redbox into live streaming television builds on the company’s commitment to being the go-to entertainment destination for consumers wanting choice and amazing value. With Free Live TV, we’re now offering an unparalleled level of content choice through our kiosks, on-demand and now free streaming,”  said Galen Smith, CEO of Redbox, in a statement.

Redbox operates about 41,000 rental kiosks and the Redbox On Demand digital service. In December 2019, the company stopped renting video-game discs, explaining that going forward it is focusing on physical DVD and Blu-ray movie rentals alongside digital VOD rentals and sales.

On a separate front, last year, Redbox launched Redbox Entertainment, a new division to produce and distribute original content across its service. To date, the division has released “The Fanatic,” starring John Travolta, and “Running With the Devil,” starring Nicolas Cage and Laurence Fishburne. Another Redbox Entertainment-backed film, “The Lost Husband,” produced by and starring Leslie Bibb, will hit theaters in April.