Viacom is simultaneously at the forefront of TV Everywhere and over-the-top and way behind. On one hand, they were among the first to make exclusive and live content available via apps and digital platforms. On the other hand, on the over the top front, they are currently limited to Hulu Plus and Sony Vue.
Perhaps, then, they are using BET NOW as a litmus test for moving forward with livestreaming. Yesterday, the network announced that the BET NOW app would allow users to livestream the network across iOS and Android devices. While streaming requires TV Everywhere authentication (verifying via a live cable subscription), this seems to be only a small hurdle for fans – a recent report showed that 20% of cord cutters are “cord cheaters.”
“At BET we strive to evolve and innovate to exceed the pace of our consumer’s growing rate of video consumption on mobile devices.” said Kay Madati, Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer, BET Networks “With BET NOW’s innovative capability of LIVE viewing, our audience and users will never miss out on their favorite BET shows movies and specials.”
The app also features an extensive library featuring full episodes of current and classic shows, along with webseries.