Thanks to Lionsgate, you'll be able to experience San Diego Comic-Con without a badge. Photo: R.... [+]
These days it’s nearly impossible to secure a badge to Comic-Con International, the wild pop culture extravaganza that takes over San Diego for a week every July. But thanks to a new alliance between the Con and Lionsgate (NYSE:LGF), fans will be able to enjoy the excitement year-round via a subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service announced today.
According to Lionsgate, the new service, Comic-Con HQ, will launch with free beta access on May 7 with its official premiere in June leading up to Comic-Con International: San Diego July 21-24.
Lionsgate says the ad-free streaming service will “feature an evolving slate of programming including original scripted and unscripted series, recurring daily and weekly entertainment commentary, plus unique access to a growing library of live and archival programming from their world-class events, a highly-curated selection of film and TV genre titles, and behind-the-scenes access and bonus features from genre titles that defy and define pop culture.”
"For nearly half a century, Comic-Con has served as the definitive common ground where the fans of genre entertainment come together to express their passion for comics and pop culture," said Seth Laderman, EVP and General Manager for Comic-Con HQ. "Comic-Con HQ aspires to extend that exchange 365 days a year, bringing everything we love about Comic-Con to the world in ways never before seen and experienced. The new platform will provide a year-round destination to enjoy all facets of the community and access the vast diversity of content the world has come to expect from the largest and longest-running pop cultural celebration of the year."
Filling a market niche.The audience for this kind of pure geek culture programming has been left unserved since the G4 Network rebranded as Esquire in April, 2013. In addition to shows that catered to video gamers, comic fans and nerd media buffs, the network broadcast live remotes from Comic-Con and other big entertainment and trade shows.
Now Lionsgate appears to be picking up that thread, bringing G4 personalities including X-Play’s Adam Sessler and Attack of the Show host Kevin Pereira into the fray with their own featured shows. Pereira’s one-time AOTS co-host Olivia Munn appears to have other plans these days, however.
The move is especially interesting from the perspective of Comic-Con International, the non-profit organization that puts on San Diego Comic-Con and this month’s WonderCon in Los Angeles. Until recently, CCI has been guarded about extending its brand beyond its core events. But as the fan conventions have grown to unprecedented size and scale, the landmark “big daddy” of pop culture events may feel additional pressure to maintain its place at the center of the industry it helped to create.
"This is the first time we've had this type of an association. It was a few years in the making and we hope it will be a wonderful opportunity for fans of Comic-Con and those who may not be familiar with Comic-Con and WonderCon," said David Glanzer, Chief Communications and Strategy Officer for Comic-Con International. "My hope use that it will showcase the best our shows have to offer and show people how to experience comics and popular arts in a totally new way."
A full slate of geek-friendly programming: The new network will also offer original scripted and unscripted series including Kings of Con, inspired by real-life fan convention experiences from Supernatural stars Richard Speight and Rob Benedict, as well as the entertainment program Impossible Science starring world champion illusionist Jason Latimer, who explores breakthrough technologies capable of achieving his seemingly impossible feats of magic with real science.
Fangirl icon and entrepreneur Ashley Eckstein (known to fandom as the voice of Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ Asoka and the founder of the geek fashion brand Her Universe) was just announced as the host of an unscripted show that follows contestants as they design their geek couture concepts for the catwalk of a live San Diego Comic-Con fashion show in July.
If you crave the full SDCC experience, the channel will carry live programming from Comic-Con International including selected panels, the Masquerade, and the industry’s Eisner Awards gala. The Eisner Awards in particular offer fans a nice behind-the-scenes look at one of the most unique Comic-Con traditions and a chance to celebrate the creative talent that makes the industry run.
Events like the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards will be streamed live for the first time ever.... [+]
Stay tuned for more details. Lionsgate says to expect more news about upcoming programming and partnerships to be announced in the coming weeks. The announcement also says that “anyone can now pre-register for free beta access on www.Comic-ConHQ.com to enjoy a full platform of programming starting Free Comic Book Day on May 7via their browsers and iOS/Android devices. The paid subscription service will roll out across more connected devises in the months to come such as Roku, AppleTV and Xbox One, with additional devices and distribution platforms becoming available throughout the year.”
