TEN Acquires TORQUE.TV and Launches Motor Trend OnDemand, the Ultimate Automotive Video-On-Demand Platform
LOS ANGELES, April 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — TEN: The Enthusiast Network is pleased to announce today the acquisition of TORQUE.TV, which will provide motorsports and automotive enthusiast programming for Motor Trend OnDemand, a new over-the-top video platform launching later this summer at MotorTrendOnDemand.com.
"We are excited to launch Motor Trend OnDemand as the world's premier automotive video destination," said TEN's CEO Scott Dickey. "Fueled by the acquisition of TORQUE.TV, Motor Trend OnDemand, is now poised to become our Netflix for Motorheads. The combination of exclusive domestic and international motorsports coverage, an extensive automotive-themed television and film library, and MOTOR TREND original programming series hits such as Roadkill, Head 2 Head and Ignition, will simply be second to none in the world of automotive programming."
Launching with over 1,000 hours of live and taped exclusive motorsports and original automotive series, Motor Trend OnDemand's programming lineup will include properties such as:
- Pirelli World Challenge
- Roadkill
- American Icon
- Blancpain Endurance and Sprint GT series
- Head 2 Head
- Goodwood Festival of Speed
- Australian V8 Supercars
- Porsche Carrera Cup
- Ignition
- British Touring Car Championship
- MotoAmerica
- Carrol Shelby: King of the Road
- Junkyard Gold
- SKUSA SuperKarts! USA
- North American Endurocross
- Engine Masters
"Motor Trend OnDemand brings together for the first time a highly flexible television platform, leading automotive media brands, and the world's best automotive content producers," said TEN Chief Content Officer Angus MacKenzie. "We will acquire, curate and create world class automotive video content, and engage and activate our audience via the web, social, print, mobile and event platforms of brands such as Motor Trend, Hot Rod, and Automobile."
The acquisition of TORQUE.TV also includes a significant multiyear partnership with CBS to distribute more than 130 original hours of premier motorsports on CBS Sports Network.
"TORQUE.TV was envisioned to be the modern-day successor to Speed Channel, which launched in 1995 with many of the same motorsports series that will now be available on Motor Trend OnDemand," said Roger Werner, Torque.tv chairman, founder of the original Speed Channel cable television network and former ESPN President. "I am personally excited to pass this torch to TEN. The combination of TORQUE.TV's web platform and motorsports rights with TEN's extensive audience and its original programming are a winning combination for automotive enthusiasts everywhere."
Motor Trend OnDemand will leverage TEN's expertise in original programming, illustrated by the success of the Motor Trend Channel on YouTube, which has accumulated more than 3 million subscribers and nearly 750 million video views since inception. The channel will launch with more than 1,000 hours of programming, including an expanded slate of MOTOR TREND original programming series from brands such as MOTOR TREND, HOT ROD, AUTOMOBILE, FOUR WHEELER, and SUPER STREET, supplemented by an extensive library of automotive-themed documentaries, films, and television series. TEN will also leverage its Emmy-nominated in-house studio division, MindOverEye, to expand its original-programming lineup.
In coming months, Motor Trend OnDemand will announce details of a subscription video on demand (SVOD) service across multiple platforms and devices. These will include desktop, mobile, tablet, streaming devices, gaming consoles, connected televisions, and set-top devices, such as Apple TV and Roku. Motor Trend OnDemand will be accessible from any device, at any time, and offer personalized recommendations for programming based on user preferences and viewing habits.
About MOTOR TREND
MOTOR TREND®, a media brand of TEN: The Enthusiast Network, was founded in 1949 and is internationally recognized as one of the leading brands in the automotive category. The MOTOR TREND brand is comprised of MOTOR TREND magazine; the award-winning website MotorTrend.com; Motor Trend Auto Shows; Motor Trend Audio; Motor Trend en Espanol; Motor Trend India; and the renowned Motor Trend Car of the Year, SUV of the Year, Truck of the Year, and Best Driver's Car awards programs.
About TEN: The Enthusiast Network
TEN: The Enthusiast Network is the world's premier network of enthusiast brands, such as MOTOR TREND, AUTOMOBILE, HOT ROD, SURFER, TRANSWORLD, and GRINDTV. With more than 50 publications, 60 websites, 50 events, 1,000 branded products, the world's largest automotive VOD channel, and the world's largest action/adventure sports media platform, TEN inspires enthusiasts to pursue their passions. For more information, visit enthusiastnetwork.com.
CONTACT: Ryan Payne, SVP, Marketing, TEN: The Enthusiast Network
RPayne@enthusiastnetwork.com or 949-705-3105Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150406/196698LOGO
SOURCE TEN: The Enthusiast Network
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