David Letterman brings 24/7 channel to Samsung
Samsung TV Plus (STVP) has officially added Letterman TV to its platform.
As of December 11, the channel will stream all things Letterman, such as “The Late Show With David Letterman,” as well as curated behind-the-scenes content with the host. The channel will also initially stream past interviews and segments, such as Julia Roberts and Tom Hanks playing The Newlywed Game and musical performances by artists like Ringo Starr. There will also offer Top Ten lists, segments like “Stupid Tricks,” and holiday specials, according to Samsung.
The exclusive-to-Samsung channel will be made available for free across Samsung TVs, Galaxy devices, Smart Monitors, and Family Hub lineups. The FAST app on Samsung Smart TVs provides access to over 3,000 channels worldwide. In Canada, there are more than 200 channels on STVP available on-demand 24/7.
“David Letterman is a living legend whose humour and conversations have entertained and inspired generations,” says Salek Brodsky, SVP and general manager at Samsung TV Plus. “With Letterman TV, we’re proud to bring his iconic interviews and comedy to a new audience while giving long-time fans a chance to revisit and enjoy the moments that make him such a beloved figure in television.”
Worldwide Pants Inc (WPI) is the production company behind the programming. WPI was founded by David Letterman in 1993, which has created and produced more than 6,000 hours of television content, and has co-produced an array of award-winning television shows, films and music performances.
Hyundai and Innocean support Hockey on Prime
As the official automotive partner of the NHL, Hyundai is supporting a trio of NHL programs now streaming on Prime Video. Working closely with its marketing communication agency, Innocean, Hyundai will sponsor Faceoff: Inside the NHL, Prime Monday Night Hockey, and NHL Coast to Coast.
Faceoff: Inside the NHL first premiered on Prime in October, and is a documentary series giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the personal and professional lives of some of the NHL’s top players through the season as they fight for the Stanley Cup.
Prime Monday Night Hockey, which also debuted in October, provides exclusive access to 26 national Monday NHL matchups directly to Prime Video subscribers. And finally, NHL Coast to Coast, is a studio show that provides a look at all the major highlights, games, and stories across the NHL.
There has been a race between streamers to lock up and monetize live sports content. Netflix scooped up some NFL games, as well as WWE Raw, while Disney+ plans on airing ESPN content on its service, and Apple TV made a deal with MLS for the season.
Buzzfeed sells Hot Ones
Buzzfeed announced this week that it has sold First We Feast – the food and pop culture entertainment studio behind its popular “Hot Ones” YouTube show – for $82.5 million in an all-cash deal.
Investors who made the purchase include podcast empire Crooked Media, Hot Ones host and co-creator Sean Evans, First We Feast founder Chris Schonberger, and the Soros Fund Management. More investors will be announced in the coming weeks.
First We Feast, which has 14 million subscribers on YouTube and four billion views, will now act as an independent multiplatform media company.
“With new investment, we’re poised to expand into exciting new areas – including new platforms, live events, and talent acquisition – cementing First We Feast as the ultimate destination for pop culture–obsessed audiences,” said Schonberger, who will assume the role of CEO, in a statement.
As for Buzzfeed, it said in a statement that “the sale of First We Feast and continued reduction of our convertible debt marks an important step in BuzzFeed, Inc.’s strategic transformation into a media company positioned to fully benefit from the ongoing AI revolution.”
With files from Greg Hudson
