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Streaming Wars Expand with Arrival of New Documentary Service

A new, ad-funded movie streaming platform specializing in non-fiction films is debuting today, aiming to captivate the niche documentary audience. This service is a collaborative venture.

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Streaming sector sees a new entrant with the arrival of the documentary service
Streaming sector sees a new entrant with the arrival of the documentary service

Streaming Wars Expand with Arrival of New Documentary Service

A new player has entered the streaming market, with the launch of Documentary+ today. This exciting new service, a joint project between Tony Hsieh and studio XTR, is dedicated to non-fiction films and aims to be a home for some of the best documentary films of our time.

In a competitive market that includes the likes of Netflix, HBO Max, Discovery+, Hulu, Kanopy, and CuriosityStream, Documentary+ offers a refreshing change. While most of these competitors require monthly subscription fees, Documentary+ will be free to access, making it a nice complement to other paid services.

The service's CEO, Mooser, believes this is an exciting time for nonfiction, with visionary new directors and wider global audiences due to streaming. Documentary+ will be a key cornerstone in the future of the industry, according to Mooser, as he sees the COVID pandemic as having accelerated digital growth.

The library of films on Documentary+ is impressive, with a catalog of films by several high-profile directors and filmmakers. Some of the names included are Werner Herzog, Terrence Malick, Kathryn Bigelow, and Spike Jonze. The service offers a broad selection of categories to choose from, including politics, sports, comedy, music, and true crime, among other genres.

All films on the service are licensed, and Documentary+ is available on desktop, mobile devices, Apple TV, Amazon, and Roku. At launch, the service boasts more than 150 titles.

While the service does not currently have any plans for an ad-free version, Mooser states that this may change if demand is high enough. The company is also looking for potential acquisitions opportunities at the Sundance Film Festival, which is officially beginning this week.

Documentary+ is not only a streaming service but also provides filmmakers with another option for distribution as competition increases. Mooser believes that the wide variety of content and the free access model will make Documentary+ a valuable addition to the streaming landscape.

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