Music icons set for Canuck Netflix competitor

The upcoming Canadian SVOD service known as ‘Project Latte’ has acquired music themed programming including documentary Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways and Aussie miniseries INXS: Never Tear Us Apart.

The Bell Media-owned service has lined up an in-house music team, who will curate the programmes.

The deals see Bell buying HBO doc series Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways (pictured) from BBC Worldwide, The Rolling Stones: Crossfire Hurricane and exclusive docs on artists and groups such as Ozzy Osbourne, Paul McCartney, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Freddie Mercury, Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel and Marvin Gaye.

On the series side, Latte has taken Shine International-distributed drama miniseries INXS: Never Tear us Apart, which set viewing records on Network Seven in Australia this year. Another new series, Down the Tracks, looks into the musical influences of iconic artists such as Led Zeppelin and Bob Dylan.

Latte has also bought VH1 series Behind the Music, which chronicles the hardships and successes of the like of John Lennon and Genesis, and Classic Albums from Eagle Rock Entertainment. The latter takes a behind-the-scenes look at influential albums.

The deals come after a spate of deals for Latte ahead of its launch next month. The service has challenged SVOD rival Netflix and cable company-backed Shomi by acquiring rights to Seinfeld, Manhattan, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Arrow, The Flash, Orphan Black and Doctor Who.

It also has exclusive Canadian SVOD rights to HBO programming and deals with several US studios  – potentially key draws in the battle for online subscribers.