VIZIO Announces Expanded Content Offering with VIZIO Features

Rhea-AI Summary

VIZIO (NYSE: VZIO) has introduced new custom channels to its WatchFree+ streaming service, enhancing its VIZIO Features offering. Leveraging first-party viewership data, these channels include Fork & Flight, Gamernation, and Investigation, catering to diverse interests from food to crime. Fork & Flight leads in viewership with five times that of competitors. The initiative aims to optimize viewer engagement, providing advertisers with unique opportunities. VIZIO's approach not only enhances the consumer experience but is also expected to generate additional revenue streams for content creators.

Positive

• New custom channels like Fork & Flight and Gamernation expanding WatchFree+ offerings.
• Fork & Flight has achieved five times the viewership compared to other food channels.
• Increased advertising opportunities leading to higher CPMs for advertisers.
• Enhanced viewer experience through personalized content delivery.

Negative

• None.

Leveraging VIZIO’s First-Party Viewership Data, VIZIO Creates and Delivers Custom Content Experiences for Audiences that Also Offer More Value for Content Creators and Advertisers

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- VIZIO (NYSE: VZIO) today announced a slate of new content available through its VIZIO Features offering, including a series of custom-curated channels on the rapidly growing WatchFree+ streaming service.

VIZIO Announces Expanded Content Offering with VIZIO Features (Graphic: Business Wire)

VIZIO Features is an exclusive content offering that leverages VIZIO’s first party, opted-in viewership data and homescreen targeting capabilities to deliver personalized content experiences to audiences via free ad-supported channels, movies, and shows across the VIZIO SmartCast® operating system.

On the heels of the success of VIZIO’s first curated offerings, Fork & Flight and Investigation, VIZIO is expanding the Features offering to include a wider selection of content genres. The creation of these channels is part of VIZIO’s ongoing commitment to deliver more of what audiences want. Audiences can dive into the following featured channels, available exclusively on WatchFree+:

Channel	Category	Description
​FORK & FLIGHT	Home + Food	A unique mix of today’s most popular culinary and travel TV shows alongside top digital creators and trendsetters. The channel will also feature special holiday content in the months to come.   Since its launch, Fork & Flight has become the top food-based programming channel on WatchFree+ with 5X the viewership of any other channel within the Home + Food category.
​ GAMERNATION	Gaming + Anime	Gamernation is a Subnation curated, always-on channel, delivering video game and esports programming from top gaming influencers and publishers like Studio71 and Complex, as well as original shows, action packed movies and the latest news from around the Metaverse.
INVESTIGATION	Crime	Investigation unlocks the door to real crime and the unknown, giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at investigations, as well as in-depth explorations.   Crime is a top performing category across WatchFree+ after just a few weeks on the platform, VIZIO Investigation has become one of the top three channels on WatchFree+.
MISSION	Movies + TV	Prepare for take-off! Allow your imagination to take you on a sci-fi Mission to other realms and the unknown.​   Since its debut just two weeks ago, Mission is already performing in the top ten channels of the sci-fi category and soon audiences can dive into episodes of Godzilla.
FEAR	Movies + TV	Don’t Fear getting sucked into the terror of your stream -- just be prepared to scream! Enter at your own risk...   In its first week, Fear has become a top horror movie channel in the horror sci-fi category.
POLARIS	Interests + Lifestyle	Launched by cultural journalists, personalities, and music historians, Polaris exists to uncover and share stories created by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and authentically share Hip-Hop and Black culture with the world.   Coming Soon...

The addition of these curated channels featuring exclusive content marks VIZIO’s latest evolution as an end-to-end content provider, leveraging its unique first-party viewership data, historically used to serve the most relevant ads, to now curate and deliver the most relevant programming as well.

‘Features’ themes and programming are selected based on what viewers have shown the greatest interest in across millions of SmartCast devices. The result is a free, curated experience that allows viewers to quickly and easily find the content they love most with bingeable back-to-back programming.

“Features is a good business model for VIZIO because it solves problems for viewers, advertisers and content partners alike,” said Steve DeMain, VP Engagement at VIZIO. “Our Features programming strategy delivers more of what our viewers love across multiple genres. And by developing these passionate audiences, we are not only building great sponsorship opportunities for brands, but we are also helping our content partners generate new revenue with VIZIO.”

In the coming months, VIZIO will expand its VIZIO Features offering with new channels and experiences focused on home & DIY, holidays, live concerts, naturescape programming, and more.

Creating More Value in the Ecosystem

For content creators and media companies, curated channels offered as a part of VIZIO Features create an additional distribution touchpoint across WatchFree+ audiences, providing even greater reach. Inclusion alongside other similar content allows content creators and distributors to find and build new audiences while creating an additional revenue stream, and offers even more insight into what content resonates best with WatchFree+ audiences.

VIZIO Features provides VIZIO Ads customers with expanded advertising opportunities and branded content solutions while delivering premium entertainment to millions of viewers who choose VIZIO SmartCast as the first stop in their streaming journey. VIZIO Features are driving higher CPMs and offer advertisers unique ways to reach viewers, including in-program video ads, banner ads and branded channel sponsorship opportunities. Major brands including Microsoft, Grey Goose, Freshworks, and Cracker Barrel have already worked with VIZIO Ads to realize the value of advertising in the VIZIO Features environment.

“VIZIO’s Features option is a win-win-win for everyone navigating CTV advertising investments,” said Freshworks CMO Stacey Epstein. “Viewers get access to programming customized to their tastes, and brands get a new and innovative advertising format to reach them. We couldn’t wait to jump at the chance to participate.”

Additionally, VIZIO executives and launch partner Polaris, will discuss the opportunities for brands during a breakfast session today at Advertising Week in New York.

More About VIZIO Ads

VIZIO Ads was created to help deliver a more relevant advertising experience to consumers and brands alike. Offering premium, addressable advertising inventory inside of WatchFree, SmartCast and within popular TV apps, VIZIO Ads gives advertisers the ability to reach new audiences with relevant messages at the right time. VIZIO Ads gives its customers personable service, app-level transparency and screen-level verification to ensure brands can invest with confidence across one of the largest smart TV footprints in the U.S.

Learn more here: www.vizioads.com.

About VIZIO

Founded and headquartered in Orange County, California, our mission at VIZIO Holding Corp. (NYSE: VZIO) is to deliver immersive entertainment and compelling lifestyle enhancements that make our products the center of the connected home. We are driving the future of televisions through our integrated platform of cutting-edge Smart TVs and powerful SmartCast™ operating system. We also offer a portfolio of innovative sound bars that deliver consumers an elevated audio experience. Our platform gives content providers more ways to distribute their content and advertisers more tools to target and dynamically serve ads.

For more information, visit VIZIO.com and follow VIZIO on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211020005224/en/

Press Contact for VIZIO:

Melissa Hourigan

Fabric Media

720-608-1919

viziovip@fabricmedia.net

Source: VIZIO Holding Corp

FAQ

What new offerings did VIZIO announce for WatchFree+?

VIZIO announced new custom channels for WatchFree+, enhancing its VIZIO Features offering.

Which channel is the top performer on VIZIO's WatchFree+?

Fork & Flight is the top performing channel on WatchFree+, with five times the viewership of other food channels.

What benefits does VIZIO Features provide to advertisers?

VIZIO Features offers unique advertising opportunities and higher CPMs, enhancing brand reach.

When was VIZIO's new content offering announced?

The new content offering was announced recently, as detailed in their press release.