MTV UK To Launch VoD Portals For Key Shows, Including For The Popular Animated Original Nickelodeon Series "SpongeBob SquarePants"

From Broadcast:

MTV to launch VoD portals for key shows

MTV is to create subscription video-on-demand portals dedicated to key shows such as Spongebob Squarepants as its MTV OD portal moves into a full launch.

The broadcaster will follow this week's launch of a South Park on-demand subscription service with further dedicated portals, with kids' TV earmarked as one area in which developments are likely.

Viacom International senior vice president of digital Philip O'Ferrall said launching subscription VoD offerings alongside existing download-to-own opportunities via stores such as iTunes had not cannibalised sales or had a negative impact on linear viewing.

“It makes sense for our iconic brands to have standalone VoD services. We have shows with more than 10 million fans across social media and we should be providing them with a dedicated experience,” he said.

O’Ferrall added that the international rollout of Nickelodeon's Spongebob Squarepants multiplayer game demonstrated the broadcaster's appetite for bespoke products around the brand.

Viacom will also extend the reach of its VoD portals onto tablets this year. “The success of the MTV News app has clearly shown people want to watch video on tablet devices,” he said.

Connected-TV developments are also on the roadmap.

The move comes as the MTV OD portal, which soft-launched 15 months ago, goes into full launch.

It offers visitors streamed access to MTV's catch-up service and archive of shows for £2 a day, or £3 a week, and recorded 250,000 paid-for views in its first six months.

It will now be heavily promoted on air for the first time and integrated more closely with the MTV website, search and social media presence.