Key Points
- FreeCast is expanded its partnership with DIRECTV to distribute streaming services across its Platform-as-a-Service ecosystem.
- The agreement allows telecom providers, property owners and other partners to bundle DIRECTV into their own branded offerings.
- FreeCast said the integration enables immediate monetization since DIRECTV’s streaming service is already available through its platform.
FreeCast is broadening its relationship with DIRECTV, allowing the pay TV provider’s streaming services to be offered not only through FreeCast’s consumer-facing operations but also across its growing Platform-as-a-Service business.
The company announced this week that the expanded agreement extends its existing authorization to market and sell DIRECTV services in residential and multifamily housing communities, while opening the door for a wider range of partners to incorporate DIRECTV into their own branded offerings.
Under the arrangement, telecommunications providers, broadband companies, wireless carriers, property owners, hospitality businesses, municipalities and other organizations using FreeCast’s Platform-as-a-Service technology will be able to integrate DIRECTV streaming services into their products and customer offerings.
The move comes as media and technology companies increasingly look to bundle video services with broadband, wireless and other subscription products.
Unlike some platform initiatives that require extensive development before generating revenue, FreeCast said DIRECTV’s streaming service is already available through its existing sales and distribution channels, allowing the company to pursue monetization opportunities immediately.
“Consumers increasingly want a single destination for live television, premium streaming services, local programming, sports, news, and on-demand entertainment,” FreeCast CEO William Mobley said in a statement. “DIRECTV is one of the most recognized entertainment brands in America, and integrating its services throughout the FreeCast ecosystem expands both the value we deliver to partners and the monetization opportunities available across our platform.”
FreeCast believes the expanded relationship could become a significant source of recurring subscription revenue as it grows its network of Platform-as-a-Service partners.
The company’s platform allows businesses and organizations to launch their own branded streaming services that can incorporate live television, free ad-supported streaming channels, subscription services, local content, advertising and subscriber management tools.
Adding DIRECTV to that ecosystem gives partners another premium television product that can be bundled alongside broadband, wireless, residential and hospitality offerings. FreeCast said the integration is intended to simplify content discovery and subscription management for consumers while providing partners with additional revenue opportunities.
Mobley described the expanded agreement as more than a traditional distribution deal, calling it a strategic addition to FreeCast’s broader platform strategy.
“We view this expansion as more than a distribution agreement,” Mobley affirmed. “DIRECTV represents a proven subscription product that can be immediately incorporated into both our residential sales efforts and our broader PaaS ecosystem.”
