Canada’s latest ad-supported streaming and digital linear network has set its early ambitions for original programming.

Founded by Canadian producers Warren Campbell and Gordon Weiske, JOIN TV – short for Just One Incredible Network – is set to launch globally on Jan. 1, 2023, as an AVOD and free, ad-supported TV (FAST) channel platform. The launch was announced ahead of MIPCOM.

The themed FAST channels available at launch will cover music, documentary, animation, fashion, cryptocurrency news, travel and sports, as well as content geared toward Indigenous peoples, the LGBTQ2S+ community, and a Trending Channel with popular programming from around the globe.

The network is casting a wide net in its programming acquisition strategy by targeting both long- and short-form content, Weiske tells Playback Daily. In addition to acquiring traditional one-hour or half-hour TV content, the network is looking to online content creators and film festivals to acquire short films and series to curate into programming packages for their platform.

Original programming is already built in to the strategy as well, with the founders setting plans to both produce their own original content and commission from Canadian indie producers.

Weiske says their original programming strategy will be directly informed by consumer data. “Once we launch, we can then track to see where people’s interests are, so if a show is doing very well, we have access to the analytics of who’s watching, and then we [can] start producing new content that’s catered towards those channels or those interest groups,” he says.

Original content will begin at the micro-budget level as they grow their revenue, according to Weiske, and will include both scripted and unscripted content.

Outside of traditional ad breaks, which Weiske says will run about five minutes per hour, JOIN TV is also looking at branded channels as an additional revenue stream, with companies able to sponsor a FAST channel for a certain length of time.

Weiske says AVOD and FAST channels are increasingly becoming an area of interest for advertisers, where he estimates billions will be spent over the next two to three years, because of how closely they can target specific audiences. He gives the Crypto News Channel as an example of some of the ways they’re strategically targeting niche groups to give them an advantage in the marketplace.

JOIN TV will be available to download from any smart TV that supports FAST channel apps, says Weiske, including brands such as LG and Samsung. He adds that a core part of the launch is to educate consumers on the volume of content freely available to smart TV owners.

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