April 22, 2024
LAS VEGAS, April 16, 2024: Interactive entertainment company ROXi announces partnerships with the major US broadcasters and a collaboration with Pearl TV to roll out revolutionary interactive TV channels nationwide, leveraging ROXI’s new revolutionary FastStream technology for NextGen TV.
The new FastStream-powered interactive TV channels will be immediately differentiated from traditional broadcast TV channels in that:
Pearl TV, whose members include eight of the largest broadcast TV companies in America, is collaborating with ROXi to accelerate the delivery nationwide of select interactive TV channels.
First to be broadcast will be ROXi’s interactive music channels, which will revolutionize the delivery of music on TV by allowing viewers on a music channel to choose genre or decade, and skip through music videos they don’t like, something that has never been possible on broadcast TV music channels before.
ROXi and broadcasters are also now working on interactive TV channels for other genres including news, entertainment and sport, with further announcements to be made shortly.
ROXi CEO Rob Lewis believes FastStream can make broadcast TV compelling for a younger consumer: “These new interactive TV channels are exactly what the younger consumers want from their media experiences. They’ve grown up with YouTube or TikTok in their pocket and expect to be able to start a program at any time, and skip any segment they’re not interested in, even on broadcast TV at home.”
Anne Schelle, Managing Director of broadcaster group Pearl TV, agrees. “These new channels on NextGen TV deliver a revolutionary viewing experience to consumers, one which can drive demand for NextGen TVs while allowing ATSC 3.0 broadcasters to expand their market share of the growing connected TV ad market.”
Skip Flenniken, Sinclair’s VP & GM Technology Business Development, said, “We’re very excited to be working with ROXi to deliver exciting new interactive TV experiences to consumers. We’re confident these experiences will provide consumers with a better understanding of the possibilities of broadcast TV and help accelerate the widespread adoption of NextGen TV.”
Kerry Oslund, Vice President of Strategy & Business Development for The E.W. Scripps Company, said, “We all agree that it’s imperative we discover new ways to engage viewers, especially younger audiences who are not watching television the same way their parents do. This partnership with ROXi allows for an interactive experience that brings new and exciting ways to engage with our audiences.”
Meanwhile, Nick Colsey, Vice President of Business Development, Sony Electronics, noted, “Sony is excited to be delivering NextGen TV across its entire range of US televisions. The introduction of these innovative and interactive TV channels in the US market will help customers enjoy their Sony BRAVIA TVs even more.”
NextGen TV, a free over-the-air service, is the first major overhaul in nearly 30 years to the Advanced Television Systems Committee broadcast standard. The broadcast technology makes possible a variety of new features for viewers, including:
NextGen TV receivers are available to consumers at a wide assortment of retail prices and is built into select TV models and in upgrade accessory receivers manufactured by Zinwell; ADTH; Hisense; Sony; LG; Samsung, and, later this year, TCL.
Learn more about NextGen TV by visiting WatchNextGenTV.com, which offers a guide to cities carrying the service, as well as links to available NextGen TV models and upgrade accessory device options, features and retail pricing as products are certified and reach retail availability.
About ROXi FastStream
ROXi’s new interactive TV platform, FastStream, represents a revolution in broadcast TV for broadcasters and content owners, making broadcast TV channels fully interactive without the need for users to ever download or launch a TV app. FastStream TV channels benefit from the instant accessibility of a broadcast TV channel but with the full interactivity and functionality of a downloaded OTT app. Many analysts believe FastStream will make broadcast TV relevant to a younger customer base who expect to be able to skip, skip back, and personalise their experience. Indeed, The Verge has called out FastStream as the saviour of broadcast TV, whilst The Washington Post named FastStream one of the top three announcements at CES 2024.
In addition to FastStream, ROXi offers consumers the free ROXi music app on a wide range of smart TVs in the UK and is coming to the USA on Samsung, LG, Fire TV, Google TV, Comcast, Sky, Roku and Vizio. ROXi is a globally licensed music streaming company with over 100 million music videos backed by Simon Cowell, Kylie Minogue, Sheryl Crow, Robbie Williams and U2’s Adam Clayton.
About Pearl TV
Pearl TV is a business organization of US broadcast companies with a shared interest in exploring forward-looking broadcasting opportunities, including innovative ways of promoting local broadcast TV content and developing digital media and wireless platforms for the broadcast industry. Pearl’s membership, comprising more than 820 TV stations, includes eight of the largest broadcast companies in America: Cox Media Group, Graham Media Group, Gray Television, Hearst Television Inc., Nexstar Media Group, Sinclair Broadcast Group, the E.W. Scripps Company, and TEGNA Inc.
About Sinclair, Inc.
Sinclair, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI), is a diversified media company and leading provider of local news and sports. The Company owns, operates and/or provides services to 185 television stations in 86 markets affiliated with all the major broadcast networks; owns Tennis Channel and multicast networks Comet, CHARGE!, TBD and The Nest; and owns and provides services to 21 regional sports network brands. Sinclair’s content is delivered via multiple platforms, including over-the-air, multi-channel video program distributors, and the nation’s largest streaming aggregator of local news content, NewsON. The Company regularly uses its website as a key source of Company information which can be accessed at www.sbgi.net.
About The E.W. Scripps Company
The E.W. Scripps Company (Nasdaq: SSP) is a diversified media company focused on creating a better-informed world. As one of the nation’s largest local TV broadcasters, Scripps serves communities with quality, objective local journalism and operates a portfolio of more than 60 stations in 40+ markets. Scripps reaches households across the U.S. with national news outlets Scripps News and Court TV and popular entertainment brands ION, Bounce, Defy TV, Grit, ION Mystery and Laff. Scripps is the nation’s largest holder of broadcast spectrum. Scripps is the longtime steward of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Founded in 1878, Scripps’ long-time motto is: “Give light and the people will find their own way.”