Vizio also plans to air a feature-length rom-com on WatchFree+ for Valentine’s Day called Love on Location.
“With these films, we’re taking genres audiences already love and elevating them with premium, top-tier talent, high production value, and smart storytelling,” Hovey said.
An advertising engine for Walmart
Vizio sees potential in WatchFree+ for Walmart’s core suppliers and marketplace sellers to reach high-income consumers. Thirty-nine percent of WatchFree Plus users have household incomes over $100,000, according to third-party data presented by Vizio.
WatchFree+ offers more than 45,000 movies and shows as well as more than 400 live and local channels. As the service has expanded its content offerings, including content made to promote products sold at Walmart, viewing hours have grown 58% year-over-year as of the second quarter, according to Vizio’s internal data.
WatchFree+ reaches 27 million devices, a 25% year-over-year increase as sales of Vizio smart TVs have also grown, according to Vizio.
“The explosion of streaming has given us an abundance of content to watch wherever we want, but it’s also lost a lot of viewers stuck in decision paralysis,” Hovey said. “When you add in the rising cost of the streaming bundle, it’s no surprise that audiences are increasingly turning to free TV.”
