Quibi to Include TV Casting Option Starting Next Month

By Todd Spangler, Variety
Published April 22, 2020, 4:03 p.m. ET

Quibi, launched two weeks ago as a mobile-only video streaming app for on-the-go viewing, said it plans to add the ability to “cast” content to compatible TVs next month.

The company, led by founder Jeffrey Katzenberg and CEO Meg Whitman, also announced that its app has been downloaded more than 2.7 million times in the first two weeks. In the first week, according to the company, it hit 1.7 million downloads. Independent researchers haven’t confirmed the download figures; meanwhile, it’s worth noting that some of those who downloaded the Quibi app have likely watched very little of the quick-bite content.

Quibi launched April 6 with some 50 shows at launch, and it’s initially free (with ads) for 90 days. The inability for users to watch the premium, short-form episodes on TVs frustrated some — particularly given stay-at-home quarantines covering much of the U.S. — and Quibi subsequently said it would fast-track a TV-casting feature.

How Quibi’s casting-to-the-TV feature will work is unclear. The top mobile-casting technologies are Google Cast, which let mobile devices send audio and video streams to compatible TVs or other devices; and Apple’s AirPlay.

In announcing the 2.7 million downloads, Quibi said the top five trending shows on the service since launch are:

  • Most Dangerous Game starring Liam Hemsworth and Christoph Waltz
  • Chrissy’s Court featuring Chrissy Teigen and Pepper Thai
  • Flipped starring Will Forte and Kaitlin Olson
  • Punk’d hosted by Chance The Rapper
  • Survive starring Sophie Turner and Corey Hawkins

And the most-watched “Daily Essentials” shows on Quibi (listed alphabetically), according to the company, are:

  • Around the World by BBC News
  • No Filter by TMZ
  • The Rachel Hollis Show
  • The Report by NBC News
  • Sexology with Shan

Quibi also has a deal with T-Mobile, which is offering one free year of the service to subscribers on multiline wireless plans. After the free trial periods are up, Quibi’s regular pricing is $4.99 per month with ads and $7.99 per month with no ads. See the lineup of Quibi’s 50 shows available at launch.