Univision launches direct-to-consumer service

US Hispanic broadcaster Univision has become the latest big media company to roll out a direct-to-consumer service.

Univision Now will allow subscribers to view live streams of the full linear Univision and UniMás nets on connected devices, meaning consumers can watch sport, telenovelas, news and entertainment shows from the Latino-skewing channels.

Subs can also view content via a seven-day catch-up service, and there will be a three-day DVR service allowing viewers to rewind and pause programmes across that time period.

Viewers in New York, Los Angeles and Houston will also get local news via Univision Now.

Specific programming highlights include telenovelas Muchacha Italiana Viene a Casarse and Antes Muerta Que Lichita, reality series La Banda (pictured), the Latin Grammy Awards and live Mexican Liga MX as well as MLS soccer.

Univision has priced the D2C offering at US$5.99 a month, or US$59.99 a year.

Launching the new service, Univision noted the high use of mobile phones and connected devices among US Hispanics.

“Our audience leads the market in live television viewing, and also over indexes on smartphone penetration and digital video consumption,” said Tonia O’Connor, Univision’s president of content distribution and corporate business development.

“Therefore, providing access to our broadcast networks, Univision and UniMás, on mobile devices is critical to our mission to entertain, empower and inform.”

Yesterday, cable channel Smithsonian launched Smithsonian Earth, which is just one of a growing number of examples of linear channels going direct to consumers.