Discovery Founder John Hendricks Launches SVOD Factual Service, CuriosityStream. Meet President Elizabeth Hendricks North at MIPDoc 2015.

A welcome new face at MIPDoc was Elizabeth Hendricks North, President of Curiosity Project LLC.

She was in Cannes to promote the ad-free Subscription VOD (SVOD) service CuriosityStream, launched in March to focus on premium factual content.

Elizabeth’s father is Discovery Channel founder and industry legend John Hendricks.

Mission

• The CuriosityStream mission is to apply John Hendricks’ vision of “accessible and curated factual programs to the social media generation.”
• It is “the world’s first ad-free, SVOD service that addresses our lifelong quest to learn, explore, and understand.”
• “Our aim is to provide the first and best on-demand video streaming destination that aggregates and curates the world’s best factual content.”

The MIPdoc Interview

• Here on YouTube, watch Elizabeth describe her strategy for CuriosityStream:

Three Pricing Options

• Standard Resolution ($2.99 per month).
• HD ($5.99 per month).
• And later this year: 4K (Around $10.00).

Access

• Unlimited access.
• Via Internet-connected TVs, smartphones, tablets, set top boxes and additional devices.
• Initially in U.S., with plans to be available worldwide over the next five years

Offer at Launch

• Targets ‘knowledge seekers of all ages.’
• 300 +/- hours of original and acquired programming in Year 1.
• New titles added weekly.

Exclusive Interviews

• Segments and full interviews from 70+ world experts.
• Covers a broad range of subjects from evolution to rock stars.
• 25 new interviews added each month.

Sources

• Content providers include the BBC, NHK, ZED, Terra Noa and Flame.
• Mainly acquisitions at first, with an expanding commitment to original commissions.

Highlighted Series

• Destination Pluto
• Chopra Love in Action
• Cosmic Front
• Annihilation: Destruction of Europe’s Jews
• Earth: Power of the Planet

Formats

“Engaging short-form content, generally less than 8 minutes in length, will comprise a significant part of the library.”

• 2 mins.
• 6-10 mins.
• Plus TV half-hours and hours.

Programming Team

• Steve Burns heads up the programming team for CuriosityStream.
• Steve is a highly-respected industry veteran.
• Richard Sergay is the interview host for Curiosity Studios and senior consultant for partnerships & acquisitions.
• Peter North is EVP for Digital Media Operations.

More on SVOD

• Our recent analysis of the “All You Can Eat!” SVOD model.
• Netflix: What They Pay.

More on John Hendricks

• I was honored to work with John Hendricks and his team when the Discovery Channel was a struggling start-up.
• Many entrepreneurs were targeting the documentary niche, but Hendricks had the character and vision to establish trusted partnerships with cable distributors, notably TCI’s John Malone.
• Over 20 years, my consulting engagements with Discovery included the following business plans and due diligence efforts:
  • Discovery International, including plans for UK / Europe, Germany, Middle East, Asia and Australia.
  • Discovery Home Video & Publishing (with John DiGiacomo)
  • Discovery Productions
  • Health Channel
  • Discovery Television Music (with Tom Porter)
• I’m grateful to John Hendricks for creating a wonderful stream of engagements that spanned decades.
• I wish John, Elizabeth and CuriosityStream lots of success!