Time Inc., only a week after calling off merger talks, unveiled its latest digital aspirations, including the launch of a Sports Illustrated streaming video-on-demand service, adding a second daily half hour show to People Now and hatching a deal with Twitter to live stream a weekly show with Essence.
The company said it will produce 150 video series in 2017.
CEO Rich Battista said the company planned 1,500 hours of live video programming this year and also will have 40 hours of programming on conventional television, including four hours with ABC in August marking the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death.
So far, no advertisers have been lined up for the new Sports Illustrated network. “We just announced it today,” he said. “We’re having lots of discussions with lots of players.”


