Time Inc. announced on Wednesday the launch of Sports Illustrated TV, an over-the-top streaming media network available Nov. 16 on Amazon Channels that features no live sports but everything from swimsuits to soccer content.
The network premieres with 130 hours of on-demand programming. The “Original Series” section of SI TV features interviews of athletes who have graced Sports Illustrated’s covers and exclusive Sports Illustrated Swimsuit content and shows from 1994 through the model search for the February 2018 issue. Included as part of the network are weekly studio shows such as The Crossover for basketball and Planet Futbol for soccer and also sports documentaries and movies like the Rocky series, Bad News Bears and North Dallas Forty.
Sports Illustrated, which is Time Inc.’s second OTT network, is available to Amazon Prime members in the U.S. for $4.99 per month and can be accessed through the Prime Video app on TVs, streaming media players, mobile devices or online at Amazon.com/amazonchannels.
Time Inc.’s sports producers and editorial staff will develop original SI TV shows. SI TV has also signed deals with Oscar-nominated and award-winning sports filmmaker Mike Tollin, co-chair of Mandalay Sports Media, and 10-time Emmy winner Jonathan Hock, for two different sports documentary projects slated for 2018.
“SPORTS ILLUSTRATED TV is a new home for sports lovers who want to go beyond sports highlights and heated debates with distinctive, immersive and entertaining original programming curated through the trusted SPORTS ILLUSTRATED lens,” Rich Battista, President and CEO of Time Inc., said in a statement. “SPORTS ILLUSTRATED TV presents a broad slice of sports culture, complementing the pages of the magazine consumers have long loved. The brand’s unmatched storytelling is now available to audiences in an unparalleled holistic way through print, online, and on television. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED TV is premium viewing that will appeal to men and women of all ages, as well as families.”