JustWatch launching free streaming service in the UK next month
Key Points
- JustWatch TV launches in the UK and nine other markets in mid-October
- Free ad-supported viewing, rentals and an ad-free subscription on offer
- Paramount, Fremantle and New Regency among launch content partners
- Streams at 1080p, with no 4K support at launch
- Built into the existing JustWatch apps, no separate account needed
JustWatch, the streaming search site used by more than 50 million people a month, will launch its own streaming service in the UK and nine other markets in October.
The service, called JustWatch TV, will let users watch films and TV shows directly inside the JustWatch website and apps, the company said.
JustWatch TV will offer three ways to watch:
- Free viewing with adverts;
- Pay-per-title rentals;
- An ad-free subscription tier.
The service is expected to go live around the middle of October and will stream at up to 1080p, with no support for 4K resolution.
Existing JustWatch users in the launch markets will get access without creating a separate account, moving from browsing to watching within the same app.
Paramount and Fremantle among launch partners
Paramount, New Regency, Fremantle, Bleecker Street and Vortex Media have signed up as content partners for the launch, with JustWatch expecting to announce further partners.
The company said viewing demand and consumer data gathered from its discovery service, which tracks more than 1,500 streaming platforms, will shape the catalogue on offer.
“Every day, millions of people come to JustWatch searching for simpler ways to watch and discover hundreds of thousands of movies and TV shows,” said David Croyé, Founder and CEO of JustWatch Group. “With the launch of JustWatch TV, we aim to make content discovery, access and engagement even easier.”
JustWatch TV will sit alongside the existing discovery service, combining direct viewing with links to titles available on users’ other streaming subscriptions.
“We are curating film and TV hits and hard-to-find gems that you can watch for free or rent on JustWatch, or easily rediscover them on your favourite services,” said Quentin Carbonell, SVP of global content acquisitions and strategy at JustWatch.
“This way, JustWatch TV aims to support the whole industry, from filmmakers to distributors to streaming platforms across the world.”
Alongside the UK and Ireland, JustWatch TV will launch in the United States, Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain, Australia and New Zealand.
