Mance unveils 4K VoD channel

LA-based producer and distributor Mance Media is taking its library of 4K factual and reality content direct to consumers with a VoD channel launching this week.

Matthew Mancinelli

4KUniverse went live on March 1 priced at US$5.99 a month, primarily through YouTube and Vimeo but also to cable and IPTV operators with ultra-high-definition capabilities.

The channel, first mooted in December, is immediately rolling out internationally in the UK, Denmark, New Zealand, Russia, Poland, Australia and other territories.

Mance Media founder Matthew Mancinelli told C21 the content would come from the company’s library at first, including shows Timescapes 4K and Model Turned Superstar, but it would also acquire third-party content at MipTV in April.

Mancinelli said: “We’ll initially start with the Mance Media library and then license other libraries in 4K. One of the reasons we’re going to MipTV is to source and acquire as much quality native 4K content as possible, particularly TV series and action sports shot in 4K resolution.

“Once 4K hits critical mass we’ll see more distributors and producers upscaling libraries to 4K. I want to make it clear that Mance Media is only debuting native 4K content. If you stand two televisions next to each other and watch native and upscaled you’ll notice the difference.”

The fledgling service has been launched in partnership with SES and AsiaSat 4.