IMDb rebrands streaming service ahead of European launch

IMDb’s TV service Freedive is set to be rebranded IMDb TV ahead of European launch later this year, with the service set to triple its content selection in the coming months.

The service, which is owned by Amazon, has struck deals with studios including Sony Pictures Entertainment, MGM Studios and Warner Bros.

Originally launched in January as IMDb Freedive, movies including Captain Fantastic and La La Land will be added in the next month, with the latter marking the first time the Academy Award-winning film has been made available to an ad-supported streaming service.

It also announced a number of new TV shows such as Kitchen Nightmares, Duck Dynasty and The Bachelor, with content available on the service to be tripled overall.

Amazon-owned IMDb did not disclose a timeline for its European launch plans, just saying the service, which operates as a free channel on Amazon Prime and Fire TV, will be made available in Europe later this year.

The US version of IMDb TV is a free, ad-supported streaming service. It also runs through the IMDb website or Amazon’s ecosystem, although it has limited availability on mobile. At launch, European users will also be offered free access to “premium collection of movies and TV shows”, the company said in an announcement.

“With IMDb TV, viewers have discovered TV the way it ought to be – a free collection of premium TV shows and movies available anytime,” said Mark Eamer, vice president of IMDb TV.

“We deliver a top quality discovery experience that makes it easy to be entertained. With more titles than ever before coming to IMDb TV and our upcoming European expansion later this year, we’re excited for customers to tune in and enjoy all that IMDb TV has to offer, all at no cost.

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