Viacom’s Pluto TV AVOD has launched a pop-up channel dedicated to iconic Canadian teen drama
Degrassi!
Degrassi is the longest running drama franchise in the country’s history, and launched the careers of rapper Drake (then Aubrey Graham) playing school basketballer Jimmy Brooks and TVD-Actress Nina Dobrev portraying Mia Jones. Drake
hosted a mini Degrassi reunion in his hit music video for "I'm Sorry" in 2018.
The pop-up channel will play host to hundreds of episodes of
Degrassi: The Next Generation (which ran from 2001-2009) and its follow-up
Degrassi.
Degrassi is the continuation of
Degrassi: The Next Generation, beginning in the 10th season in 2010. It was restructured into a telenovela format with 40+ episodes a season and ran to 2015. Both series aired on Nickelodeon's The N and TeenNick in the U.S.
Here's the official description of the
Degrassi channel:
"Class is in session! Get into all the drama, romance, angst, and fun of the Emmy-nominated “Degrassi: The Next Generation” any time, here on Pluto TV. Pluto TV’s Degrassi channel will go live with a wide array of seasons, and will eventually launch all seasons of the show."
With equal measures of humor, angst and heart,
Degrassi: The Next Generation follows Jimmy and his fellow students as they experience all of their “firsts” on their journey into adulthood.
The show's tagline was "It goes there," and it certainly did. In addition to showcasing dating and heartbreak, the series shines a light on highly relevant and charged social and cultural topics, such as abuse, homophobia, mental disorders, gang crime and teen pregnancy. This open and honest narrative earned the series an avid and loyal fanbase far beyond the borders of Canada.
The spin-off continues to capture the joy and angst of contemporary teenage life at Degrassi Community School, and focusses on in-depth, subtle storytelling and character study.
Available immediately, Pluto TV viewers in the US and UK can tune-in, for free, on channel 172 to binge this iconic show on demand on mobile, web and connected streaming devices.
Pluto TV struck a deal with Canadian kids-and-family media company WildBrain, which owns and sells the
Degrassi franchise, for the episodes for its channel.
Paul Edwards, VP of content acquisitions and partnerships for Pluto TV in Europe, said the service has found that its pop-up services play well with consumers and, with a targeted demographic tuning in, with advertisers. He told Variety that, while Pluto TV’s ethos is to provide a simple on-demand proposition in an increasingly cluttered landscape, the service could sustain up to 100 channels.
The
Degrassi pop-up is the latest addition to a rapidly expanding roster of channels on the AVOD, and follows last month’s inclusion of seven new Viacom channels. These included channels dedicated to Viacom-owned properties such as VH1 shows
RuPaul’s Drag Race,
Love & Hip Hop and
Black Ink Crew. Pluto TV has also previously played host to
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and
Dora the Explorer pop-up channels earlier this summer, the former (
Totally Turtles) to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the iconic franchise and the latter (
Dora TV) to celebrate the new live-action movie inspired by the beloved animated preschool series. Pluto TV in Germany also hosted a
SpongeBob Schwammkopf pop-up channel to celebrate the show's 20th anniversary this summer.
Since
acquiring the ad-supported streamer for US$340 million earlier this year, Viacom has launched 28 new channels including three My5 channels in the UK and a complete suite of 11 Spanish-language channels for a dedicated Pluto TV Latino offer. In total, Pluto TV now has over 200 linear channels, with many based around flagship brands such as Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Comedy Central, MTV and BET. The AVOD is also in the midst of its international expansion.
The
Degrassi linear channel is one of 12 new channels Viacom added to its free streaming service. These channels include several 24/7 channels of popular shows like
American Gladiator,
Baywatch,
The Addams Family,
Fear Factor, and more.
Here are the new channels Pluto TV has added:
TV Terror channel 70
The scariest, goriest, most extreme horror movies ever unleashed are here to petrify you all day and all night on Pluto TV Terror. Lock the doors, turn on the lights, and tell yourself “It’s only a movie!”
American Gladiator Channel 136
Return to the arena for the original physical competition series. Watch as the challengers face off against the gladiators in tests of strength, speed, and endurance.
Baywatch Channel 139
The series that took over the world has come ashore on Pluto TV. If you’re looking for action, excitement, and running in slow motion, Baywatch is always here, 24 hours a day. Pluto TV’s Baywatch channel will go live with the first 5 seasons. Every quarter they will switch in new seasons, including “Baywatch: Hawaii.”
Degrassi Channel 172
Class is in session! Get into all the drama, romance, angst, and fun of the Emmy-nominated “Degrassi: The Next Generation” any time, here on Pluto TV. Pluto TV’s Degrassi channel will go live with a wide array of seasons, and will eventually launch all seasons of the show.
The Addams Family Channel 310
Morticia and Gomez Addams head a perplexingly macabre family whose members include a giant named Lurch, who acts as doorman, a disembodied hand named Thing, not-quite-right son Pugsley and morose daughter Wednesday.
Fear Factor Channel 349
A group of contestants are challenged to perform a number of terrifying and/or disgusting stunts, from driving a dangerous course to eating something really nasty. If a contestant refuses a challenge, fails in a challenge, or has the worst performance in a challenge, that contestant is eliminated from the competition. The contestant (or team) that manages to complete all of the stunts, including finishing the final stunt in the fastest time, wins the $50,000 prize. The rest? Well, they get nothing (except maybe a mouthful of worms). Joe Rogan is the presenter.
Criss Angel Mindfreak Channel 351
Rejecting traditional stage magic as archaic and irrelevant, a New Age illusionist unveils a series of entertainment he labels “mindfreaks” — and with good reason. What else would you call a guy levitating a stranger right there on the street.
Pursuitup Channel 507
PursuitUp is a network dedicated to the hunt-fish outdoor enthusiasts. With over 100 producers bringing world class programming from around the world, there is always an adventure waiting for you. Our legendary hosts hunt big game across Africa, cast for Bull Reds in Louisiana, teach better duck calling techniques from the green timber of Arkansas, educate how to be better stewards of the lands we hunt and much more. PurusitUp. We deliver the Outdoors. Anytime, Anywhere.
TBN Channel 635
With a combined reach of more than 100 million homes across America, TBN is the most watched and requested faith channel in the nation. We’re also the undisputed leader among faith-and-family networks for original and exclusive content, including church and ministry programs, engaging talk, music and entertainment specials, exclusive children’s shows like VeggieTales, news and current events, family friendly movies, and much more!
Hillsong Channel 637
Be inspired with worship from Hillsong United, Young & Free and Hillsong Worship and be empowered with life-giving teaching from Pastors Brian & Bobbie Houston and the international Hillsong team along with Joel Osteen, John Gray, Joseph Prince, Joyce Meyer, TD Jakes, Steven Furtick and more. Catch all the latest from Hillsong’s conferences, exclusive interviews, documentaries, fun for the kids, youth programs plus much more
MTV HOLLA! WEEN Channel 921
Halloween is here and Pluto TV is bringing you the creepiest videos on Pluto TV’s MTV Holla! Ween. Catch videos from the Prince of Darkness to Nine inch Nails and everything in between. Don’t miss Pluto TV’s MTV Holla! Ween Channel
MTV block party Channel 934
Rock out with your block out! MTV Block Party is the only place to find your favorite artist’s entire music video catalog in one place. You can watch every music video from the biggest and best artists in one continuous binge session.
More Nick: Viacom Expands Pluto TV Access to Android Devices in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the UK!
Original source: Digital TV Europe; Variety, Advanced Television, VICE, Cord Cutters News.
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