Versant is tapping into its cable television programming catalog for the launch of several new free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels that will roll out on two leading platforms over the next few weeks.
The new channels — CNBC Ambition, Snapped, Botched and Oxygen Murders of America — became available on Prime Video in the United States this week, and will roll out to users who watch content on The Roku Channel throughout November, the company said in a press release.
The expansion is part of Versant’s strategy to diversify its business beyond traditional pay television distribution by making programming from its cable networks available to viewers through free streaming services.
“Growing our digital platforms and reaching new audiences are central to Versant’s strategy,” Dave Pietrycha, the Chief Revenue and Business Officer at Versant, said in a statement. “Bringing more of our programming to Prime Video and The Roku Channel extends the reach of our iconic brands and provides audiences with more ways to discover content they value wherever they watch.”
CNBC Ambition will launch on The Roku Channel on November 3, featuring business, entrepreneurship and personal finance programming. Its lineup includes “Leader’s Playbook,” “Millennial Money,” “Secret Lives of the Super Rich,” “Billion Dollar Buyer,” “Adventure Capitalists” and “Empires of New York.”
Oxygen Murders of America will follow on November 10, offering true crime programming from Oxygen’s existing library. The channel will debut with 16 series, including “The Pike County Murders,” “The Real Murders of Atlanta,” “New York Homicide,” “Florida Man Murders” and “Sin City Murders.”
Two additional channels, Snapped and Botched, will become available on The Roku Channel on November 17.
Snapped will feature episodes from Oxygen’s long-running true crime franchise, including “Snapped,” “Snapped: Behind Bars,” “Snapped: Killer Couples” and “Snapped: She Made Me Do It?” Botched will carry episodes of the E! plastic surgery reality series and related programs, including “Botched By Nature,” “Botched Presents: Plastic Surgery Rewind” and “Botched: Most Outrageous.”
Versant is also expanding distribution of two channels operated by Free TV Networks, which it acquired in January.
Outlaw, a Western-focused entertainment channel featuring films such as “Rio Bravo,” “The Outlaw Josey Wales” and “Pale Rider,” will launch on The Roku Channel on November 10. The entertainment channel 365BLK will follow on November 17, offering films and television series aimed at African American audiences, including “Training Day,” “I Am Legend” and “In the Heat of the Night.” Both channels are already available on Prime Video.
Versant began building its FAST portfolio with six channels and added three more through its acquisition of Free TV Networks earlier this year. Versant was spun out of Comcast’s NBC Universal in January.
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