It bills itself as “the world’s first fully interactive TV music channel,” and it is powered by FastStream Interactive and ATSC 3.0 head cheerleader Sinclair. Thanks to a newly signed strategic partnership, ROXi’s music channel is being brought to 31 DMAs — with additional US markets launching later this year.
It brings a big boost in distribution to the Connected TV ad-funded free-to-air ROXi, with ATSC 3.0 marketer Pearl TV selected to assist with the rollout of ROXi in non-Sinclair markets.
What is ROXi? Think Vevo, or even YouTube, with a dash of MTV or The Box. Only, there’s no subscription needed.
“ROXi’s interactive channel delivers easy, frictionless, and free access to music videos on-demand, on NextGen enabled televisions with an interactive app-like experience, without the need for user accounts, passwords, or subscriptions,” Sinclair and ROXi noted in a press release distributed on Wednesday.
The rollout is expressly thanks to ATSC 3.0 and NEXTGEN TV capabilities that come with the new digital broadcast standard. “Consumers tuning into the ROXi TV channel will discover interactive features previously unavailable on broadcast television,” Sinclair and ROXi say.
In particular, viewers can skip through music videos “Tik-Tok style” or search for any artist, song, mood, or genre via their TV remote control, giving them access to ROXi’s catalogue of 100 million licensed songs. This is the result of partnerships with Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and MERLIN. Both original music videos and virtual music videos can be accessed by users.
Skip Flenniken, VP/GM of Technology Business Development at Sinclair, comments, “ROXi is expanding what’s possible on broadcast television, and this partnership brings an interactive music experience to viewers in a simple, accessible way—no apps, logins, or subscriptions required. It’s a clear example of how NextGen TV enhances the broadcast experience.”
ROXi is powered by interactive TV platform technology from FastStream Interactive, which leverages ATSC 3.0. FastStream was recognized with “Best of CES” and “Best of Show” Awards at the respective 2024 CES and NAB Show conferences.
For Pearl TV Managing Director Anne Schelle, “ROXi’s new service will delight viewers because it is seamless, interactive, and free. Today’s TV audiences expect control, personalization, and instant access, and ROXi delivers this in spades. We’re thrilled to support ROXi’s launch as a new NextGen TV benefit for our viewers and can’t wait to see it expand across the rest of the country, in partnership with multiple broadcasters.”
TV markets where ROXi is available include: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, Baltimore, Birmingham, Buffalo, Charleston, S.C.; Cincinnati; Columbus, Ohio; Dayton; Des Moines; El Paso; Flint, Mich.; Fresno; Green Bay, Wisc.; Greensboro; Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C.; Las Vegas; Minneapolis-St. Paul; Mobile, Ala.-Pensacola, Fla.; Nashville; Omaha; Pittsburgh; Portland, Me.; Raleigh-Durham; Rochester, N.Y.; Salt Lake City; San Antonio; Seattle-Tacoma; Syracuse; Washington, D.C.; West Palm Beach; and Wichita.
