NBCUniversal is cracking open its TV and movie archives to launch around four dozen free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels — significantly expanding its footprint in the free streaming space.
In July, the company said, it will launch the new portfolio of FAST linear channels, with content from across the NBCU Television & Streaming and the NBCUniversal Global Distribution library, on Amazon Freevee and Xumo Play (the streaming platform operated as a joint venture between Comcast and Charter).
The lineup includes dedicated free streaming channels for “Saturday Night Live,” “The Real Housewives” franchises, “Top Chef” and “Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” along with Spanish-language entertainment and news from Telemundo including “Historias de Amor,” “Lo Mejor de Telemundo” and “Telemundo al Día.” NBCU’s FAST channels also include those for older TV series “Little House on the Prairie,” “Murder, She Wrote,” “Saved by the Bell” and “The Lone Ranger,” plus genre-based channels for sitcoms, action, crime, Westerns and monster movies. (See list below.)
NBCU has inked agreements with Amazon Freevee and Xumo Play for the entire FAST content portfolio. Xumo Enterprise, the company’s business-to-business arm, will handle distribution of NBCU’s new FAST channels on third-party services (starting with Freevee).
The new FAST channels will join NBCU’s existing free linear services, including Dateline 24/7, NBC News Now, Today All Day, local NBC and Telemundo news stations, and Sky News International. The company’s Peacock subscription streaming service also includes FAST channels stocked with content from across NBCU.
The new channels feature “content from some of the most recognizable brands in television” and “will find an immediate audience in the growing FAST ecosystem, and create value for NBCUniversal, our distribution partners, and our advertisers,” Matt Schnaars, president of NBCUniversal Content Distribution, said in announcing the launch.
Here’s a list of some of NBCU’s new entertainment, news, sports, and Spanish-language FAST channels:
Network Entertainment Channels
- SNL Vault: Featuring sketches and clips from “Saturday Night Live”
- E! Keeping Up: Dedicated to “the first family of reality TV,” the Kardashian/Jenners, featuring episodes of “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” and its spinoffs
- Bravo Vault: Episodes of shows including “Shahs of Sunset” to “Flipping Out”
- Million Dollar Listing Vault: Episodes from past seasons of “Million Dollar Listing” from L.A., New York, San Francisco and Miami
- Oxygen True Crime Archives
- Real Housewives Vault
- Top Chef Vault
News
- American Crimes: Featuring episodes of series “American Greed” and “Lockup”
Sports
- GolfPass: Thousands of lessons, exclusive series, Golf Channel news and features, and more
- NBC Sports: Episodes from talk programs including “Premier League Stories” and “The Dan Patrick Show”
Telemundo
- Historias de Amor
- Lo Mejor de Telemundo
- Noticias Telemundo Ahora: 24-7 Spanish-language news channel
- Telemundo al Día: Content includes shows like “Al Rojo Vivo,” “La Mesa Caliente” and “Telemundo Deportes”
Entertainment Discovery & Fandom Channels
- Rotten Tomatoes: Featuring takes on favorite TV and movie scenes, previews of blockbusters, and weekly content highlights
Global Distribution Studio Entertainment Channels
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Episodes of the Emmy-winning mystery anthology series created by the legendary director
- Bad Girls Club: Watch as seven “outrageously bold, brazenly misbehaved women attempt to transform their reckless ways”
- Lassie: Join Lassie, the Martin family’s beloved canine, and her human animal companions as they embark on adventures
- Little House on the Prairie: Set in the late 1800s, the Ingalls family pack up their belongings and venture out West in search of a new life. Starring Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert
- Made in Chelsea: Follow eight high-society friends who live in London’s most affluent neighborhoods
- Murder, She Wrote: Mystery writer Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) solves crimes in this Emmy-winning drama
- Saved by the Bell: Follow the kids from their time at Bayside High, to post-graduation in “The College Years” and later with the next generation in “The New Class”
- TNBC: Rediscover these laugh-out-loud fan-favorite sitcoms from Teen NBC. These timeless stories about the highs and lows of growing up are relatable for any audience, young or old. Series include: “Punky Brewster,” “City Guys,” “Hang Time,” “Major Dad” and more.
- The Lone Ranger: The masked cowboy known as the Lone Ranger, and his trusty accomplice Tonto, fight for justice in the wild west.
- Universal Action: Buckle up and hold on tight! Helicopters, fast cars, and fight scenes are packed into this channel. Here you’ll find riveting shows that are sure to get your heart pumping and adrenaline flowing, such as “Magnum P.I.,” “Knight Rider,” “The A-Team” and others.
- Universal Crime: Mystery, suspense, and action culminate in these notable drama series. From the scene of the crime to the courtroom, follow along with some of your favorite stars as they fight for justice to be served. Series include: “Columbo,” “Kojak,” “The Rockford Files” and more.
- Universal Westerns: Cowboys, gunslingers, and outlaws roam the wild west in these series. Get swept away by these classic tales of heroism and family adventure set against scenic frontier backdrops, such as “The Virginian” and “Tales of Wells Fargo” among many others.
- Universal Monsters: Blood-sucking vampires, stitched-together monsters, and howling werewolves! From iconic monster movies to modern classics, these films are guaranteed to give you goosebumps, which include titles such as “Frankenstein,” “Dracula,” “The Wolf Man” and more.
Pictured above (l. to r.): Molly Shannon with Joe, Nick and Kevin Jonas on “Saturday Night Live” Season 48