Fetch TV has announced it has partnered with four Australia Free-To-Air (FTA) networks to introduce Virtual Playlist Channels (VPCs) for 7Plus, 9Now, 10 Play and SBS On Demand.
VPCs are a new Fetch TV format designed to bridge the linear and on-demand worlds, and will provide additional visibility of, and navigation to, the content available on the FTA Broadcast Video on Demand (BVOD) services via a dedicated listing on the Fetch EPG.
The VPCs will be scheduled by the FTAs, taking into consideration time of day and content popularity.
The new dual navigation VPC format recognises both he popularity of the FTA BVOD content and the enduring nature of the traditional EPG as the principal means of content discovery.
VPCs effectively expand the number of FTA channels available, while adding the functionality of an on-demand experience.
Fetch subscribers can select a current listing on the EPG or go forward in time to select a future listing.
All episodes selected commence from the start, with fast-forward and rewind functionality available.
According to Scott Lorson, Fetch TV CEO, consumer viewing behaviours continue to evolve.
“Fetch is committed to working with our content partners to provide the best possible user experience, one that caters to the diverse content discovery preferences of Australian households,” Lorson said.
“We are delighted to partner with the FTA networks to offer Fetch subscribers more choice, flexibility and convenience via the four new VPCs.”
Fetch introduced the NBCU’s Oxygen as its first VPC in January.
The new channel regularly ranks as a top 10 most popular non-kids’ channel on Fetch and consumers are utilising the dual navigation options with 89% of the show views originating via the EPG or Now & Next listings, while the rest comes from the dedicated Oxygen Catch Up app.
