Music service Tidal to stream its own original TV programmes
Jay-Z’s streaming service is taking some cues from Netflix with two exclusive series
Streaming service Tidal may have arrived claiming to be “all about the music, man”, but the company recently acquired by Jay-Z is seemingly keen to diversify its offerings.
According to a report in Variety, Tidal has ordered the creation of two original TV series: a stand-up comedy show called No Small Talk and a second season of hitherto YouTube-based street life drama Money & Violence.
No Small Talk (which should arrive on Tidal today, according to the report) consists of five half-hour episodes, each showcasing a trio of up and coming stand-up stars performing at New York’s legendary Comedy Cellar club, while the season of Money & Violence comprises 12 episodes, all of which will be available exclusively on Tidal for one week before rolling out to other sources. It’s been scheduled for a January 2016 release.
And these are apparently just the beginning, with sport and music-related video content in Tidal’s pipeline. The service, which recently hit a million subscribers, already offers around 70 exclusive music videos and short films, as well as 36 million songs and 86,000 non-exclusive music videos, suggesting it sees video as one means of gaining ground on rival music services like Spotify and Apple Music.
[Source: Variety]
Sam Kieldsen
Contributor 
