DirecTV Launches First Over-the-Top Video Service, Yaveo, for U.S. Hispanic Audiences
DirecTV, seeking a revenue stream beyond pay TV, has launched Yaveo — its first Internet-only subscription video service, aimed at U.S. Hispanic consumers — in conjunction with partners including broadcast giant Univision Communications and Viacom.
The Yaveo Spanish-language service is $7.99 per month, with the first month free. The over-the-top service promises access to thousands of hours of movies, TV shows and sports, including Univision telenovela “La Malquerida” (“The Bad Mistress,” pictured above); “All the Pretty Horses” with Matt Damon and Penélope Cruz; Roberto Rodriguez’s 1995 “Desperado,” starring Antonio Banderas; and (oddly) “Paul Blart: Mall Cop,” starring Kevin James.
Yaveo will include TV shows and movies from studios and networks including Univision’s suite of networks, beIN Sports en Español, Nick en Español, Canal 22, Pasiones, Canal Once, RCN, Caracol, TMN (The Movie Network), Cine Sony Television, MTV Tr3s, El Garage, ¡Hola!TV and Video Rola.
DirecTV’s Yaveo service is not available to users outside the U.S. The OTT package doesn’t require a satellite TV subscription or contract. The service will initially be available on PCs, Macs and Android devices, to be followed by iPhone, iPad, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and other devices.
DirecTV CEO Mike White had previously announced that the satcaster would launch a Hispanic-focused OTT service this year. He said the company was looking at launching additional niche-oriented content packages as well.
“Yaveo gets DirecTV into the OTT business, and we’re excited to start with a compelling Spanish-language service targeted to the Hispanic community,” said Paul Guyardo, the company’s chief revenue and marketing officer. “We’ll learn a great deal, use the findings to grow and improve the Yaveo platform and expand our OTT offering over time.”
AT&T is in the process of acquiring DirecTV, a deal that is pending regulatory review.
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