Roku Nabs Global rights to the Quibi library, including over 12 new programs
Following Quibi’s official shutdown, Roku announced that he has successfully acquired most of the extinct streamer’s content library, which includes scripted series, reality shows and documentaries led by list A stars such as Idris Elba, Anna Kendrick, Kevin Hart , Liam Hemsworth, Chrissy Teigen, Lena Waithe and more. More than 75 Quibi programs will be broadcast for free later this year on Canal Roku.
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“We believe that this business represents great value,” Roku’s vice president of programming, Rob Holmes, said in a statement (via Variety). “Fundamentally, we think that Quibi created excellent, high-quality content. It is a great value proposition for our users … We are moving from Quibi’s SVOD model to an ad-supported model, and this type of new and original content is generally not available for free. “
“Hollywood’s most creative and imaginative minds have created innovative content for Quibi that has exceeded our expectations,” Quibi founder Jeffrey Katzenberg said. “We are thrilled that these stories, from the surreal to the sublime, have found a new home on Canal Roku.”
In addition, the new agreement also includes more than 12 new Quibi programs that will finally be able to make their debut on Canal Roku. Included programs are: Peter Farrelly’s new comedy series The now; the Marvel vs. Comics series Russo Brothers; The Steven Spielberg horror series entitled After Dark by Spielberg, and more.
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Quibi, which is the abbreviation for “Quick Bites”, launched on April 6, 2020, with more than one billion dollars raised from its investors. Previously, I had several projects under development. Guillermo del Toro, Sam Raimi, Catherine Hardwick, Steven Spielberg, Paul Feig, Anna Kendrick, Laurence Fishburne and Don Cheadle are eight of the many producers and talents who were involved in these projects.
At its launch in April, the platform had about 50 original titles, including several reality shows starring Jennifer Lopez, Chrissy Teigen and Chance the Rapper, as well as a number of major scripted shows, including Sam Raimi’s 50 scare states, the protagonist of Liam Hemsworth Most Dangerous Game, Led by Anna Kendrick Mannequin, Kevin Hart-starring Die Hart and the revival of Comedy Central’s Reno! 911.
After six months, the mobile streamer failed to garner enough subscription numbers to keep him alive in the competitive streaming landscape that led Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman to officially close Quibi last month.