New SVOD service for the arts launches in UK and US

Marquee TV, a new subscription video-on-demand service focusing on culture and the arts has officially launched in the US and UK, providing a mix of dance, music, opera and theatre performances and arts documentaries on-demand.

The SVOD service was co-founded by arts administrator Kathleya Afanador, who served as programming and content acquisition manager for US performing arts digital video network TenduTV, who serves as director of partnerships for Marquee TV, Simon Walker, founder of Maidthorn Partners, an investment outfit focusing on the digital and creative industries, who servers as CEO, and Marc Kirschner, founder and CEO of TenduTV, who serves as head of content.

The service is supported by ‘cultural incubator’ New Inc.

Kirschner described Marquee as “a radically disruptive, high scalable new subscription arts and culture membership business that leverages under-exploited video rights and arts organization databases” that would “align the needs of artists, content producers, presenters and audiences to create a virtuous cycle of membership where the arts in all of its forms can be discovered, distributed and experienced in a manner that is both compelling, impactful and sustainable”.

The launch follows a beta-trial over the last six months. Marquee TV is available in the UK for an annual subscription of £89.99 (€102) or a monthly payment of £8.99. The founders of the service plan to roll it out globally in the course of next year.