Coincast Media signs international streaming deal

A Perth-based startup specialising in blockchain and cryptocurrency news has secured an agreement that could see one of its programs broadcast in more than 200 countries.

International streaming service DIVAN.TV has signed a deal to rebroadcast Season 1 of Coincast TV, the brainchild of Business News Australia Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist Heidi Cuthbert.

The show is part of Coincast Media, a joint venture between Cuthbert's digital PR agency Multiplier and listed Perth company DigitalX (ASX: DCC).

Founded by Ukrainian venture capitalist Andrey Kolodyuk, DIVAN.TV is a global OTT (over the top) streaming platform with viewers in countries including Russia, the Ukraine, Japan, Spain, China, South Korea and India.

"The opportunity with DIVAN.TV is a huge vote of confidence in the show which is produced out of Perth. It's great to be able to work with an international media technology company that's disrupting the business model for content," says Cuthbert, who is also executive producer of Coincast TV.

Coincast TV is one of the first shows available on DIVAN.TV's new video streaming platform powered by blockchain, which will offer Real-Time-Bidding (RTB) for Smart TV.

Viewers will watch ad-supported content in return for 30 per cent of the advertising revenue, and content owners will receive 50 per cent of total advertising revenue.

Coincast TV champions Western Australian talent with a team of local university alumni, business journalists from Seven West Media, Channel 9 and Business News WA, as well as a former Netflix Originals editor.

Cuthbert herself is a former TV journalist, working for Channels 10 and 9 News before landing the anchor position at Bloomberg in Sydney.

"Coincast TV's ability to 'cut through the jargon' and bring the complexity of blockchain and cryptocurrency news to a mainstream audience has attracted significant international interest," she says, adding the show blends finance with entertainment, humour and pop culture.

"About 65 per cent of Coincast TV's audience is aged between 18-34. We have managed to reach the lucrative millennial market, which is highly sought after by advertisers.

"We expect that this demographic will broaden the show's appeal to advertisers outside of the blockchain ecosystem."

The deal with DIVAN.TV follows the recent opening of Perth's first Blockchain Centre in West Perth, a hub for tech startups and like-minded entrepreneurs.

"We're this tiny team out of Perth, and we are now at the forefront of blockchain technology, ready to take our show to the world," says Cuthbert.

The company adds Coincast TV Season 2 is currently in development.

Related story: Coincast Media cuts out the jargon, rides the blockchain wave

Business News Australia