Thanks to a deal struck between AMC+ and Verizon, some Verizon customers will now be able to stream TV shows and movies on AMC+ for up to 12 months at no extra charge.
AMC+ will also be available in Canada in August to customers using Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video channels, Fierce Video reported.
"This expansion joins the overseas opportunities we’re just beginning to tap into with our targeted services, particularly Acorn TV and Shudder, which are expanding into markets in Europe as well as Australia and New Zealand," AMC Networks CEO Josh Sapan said, as reported by Fierce Video.
New Verizon Fios customers and customers who purchase a higher-end 5G smartphone with select Verizon Unlimited plans can now receive six or 12 months of AMC+ for free, Verizon said in a release Aug. 12.
Verizon was a key part of this deal, with AMC+ utilizing Verizon's vast network to provide access to viewers across the United States. Verizon benefits by attracting customers with promotional partnerships such as this, as well as previously signed agreements with Discovery+ and Disney+, as the streaming wars continue to rage on in the battle for viewers.
AMC has emerged as one of the leaders in streaming of late. In its second quarter financial report released Aug. 6, AMC Networks reported domestic subscription revenues increased by 21% in Q2 2021 compared with Q2 2020, which is a very aggressive growth rate. The platform still has a lot of catching up to do, but it seems, for the time being at least, that consumers are responding well to AMC+'s content.
AMC Networks reported earlier this year it had over 6 million subscribers to its services, including AMC+, Acorn TV, Allblk and Shudder, at the end of 2020. The company said on its Q2 2021 earnings call it is on track to reach its goal of 9 million subscribers by the end of 2021. The company has a long-range goal of at least 20 million subscribers by 2025, which should be attainable at the rate it is gaining subscribers. However, the streaming environment continues to become more competitive by the day.
Streaming services in general are on the rise, though some are worried about the sustainability of an industry, which was created out of the desire to save money, having subsequently branched off into several subscriptions adding up to essentially the same price as traditional cable.