Skybound, Nine Four join forces on creator-led travel and adventure FAST channel

US studio Skybound Entertainment, creator talent agency Nine Four Entertainment and FAST Studios are partnering to launch a free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel celebrating life on the road.

Rick Jacobs

Nomad Travel, a 24/7 channel featuring content from eight travel and adventure creators, launched on The Roku Channel on Tuesday.

Creators featured include Strick & Fran, Eamon & Bec, Xander Budnick, Travel Beans and Raya & Louis, as well as Tal & Mads, Max & Occy and New Kids on the Dock. Together, they have garnered more than 1.6 billion online views, said Skybound.

The launch of Nomad Travel comes a year after Skybound, which is co-founded by Robert Kirkman and CEO David Alpert, acquired Nine Four Entertainment in a bid to move further into the creator space.

Skybound serves as the primary investor and producing partner for Nomad Travel, while Nine Four provides talent and ad sales and FAST Studios oversees content programming and channel distribution.

“With Nine Four under the Skybound umbrella, we’re helping creators take ownership of their brands and expand the distribution of their content,” said Rick Jacobs, managing partner of linear content at Skybound Entertainment.

“Nomad Travel is the first of many planned collaborations as we continue to expand Skybound’s creator-first approach within the creator economy.”

Stuart McLean, CEO of FAST Studios, added: “The creator economy has been on our radar for some time, and our partnership with Skybound and Nine Four presented an opportunity to bring something truly special to audiences. Nomad Travel is a first-of-its kind travel and adventure storytelling experience – unlike anything audiences have seen – from a curated group of standout creators who are able to broaden their reach at scale.”