US media company Time has joined forces with internet company Amazon for a new OTT streaming service under the banner of its flagship magazine, Sports Illustrated, which will launch today (Thursday).
Time first unveiled plans for the service at May’s NewFronts presentation in New York, but yesterday (Wednesday) revealed that Sports Illustrated TV will launch through the Amazon Channels service in the US.
SI TV joins People TV as Time’s second streaming network and is being positioned differently from other sports platforms in that it will not carry live games or highlights. The network will instead launch with a slate of 130 hours of on-demand programming, including original documentary series, weekly studio shows and acquired sports movies, documentaries and television shows.
SI TV has also signed deals with Oscar-nominated and award-winning sports filmmaker Mike Tollin, co-chair of Mandalay Sports Media, and 10-time Emmy winner Jonathan Hock, for two different sports documentary projects scheduled for next year.
SI’s original content, which will be found in the ‘Original Series’ section of SI TV, will include exclusive access to interviews with the likes of Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones, Cleveland Cavaliers legend LeBron James (pictured) and Ultimate Fighting Championship star Conor McGregor.
In addition, Original Series includes new exclusive content for the iconic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit brand, along with an archive dating back to 1994. SI Now, the daily show that airs on SI.com, will also be offered.
“Sports Illustrated TV is a new home for sports lovers who want to go beyond sports highlights and heated debates with distinctive, immersive and entertaining original programming curated through the trusted Sports Illustrated lens,” Rich Battista, president and chief executive of Time, said.
“Sports Illustrated TV presents a broad slice of sports culture, complementing the pages of the magazine consumers have long loved. The brand’s unmatched storytelling is now available to audiences in an unparalleled holistic way through print, online, and on television.”
Amazon Prime members in the United States can subscribe to SI TV for $4.99 (€4) per month after a seven-day free trial.