UPDATED: Stan is all about the Community. As in the TV show – the streaming service has just confirmed that Season 6 of the cult show will get its Aussie debut on Stan. Details below:
The upcoming Australian launch of Netflix in 2015 has dominated discussions about streaming media services lately, but a new service that's just been launched could give Netflix a run for its money.
A product of StreamCo, a joint venture between Nine Entertainment Co. and Fairfax Media, Stan promises to bring its customers a wealth of entertainment at $10 a month, with no contracts whatsoever.
Stan uses Google Chromecast or Apple's AirPlay technology to stream full 1080p HD content to your television, something that other streaming rivals such as Presto and Quickflix have yet to provide.
Exclusively Stan's
Stan has the exclusive Australian streaming rights to the eagerly anticipated Breaking Bad spin-off show Better Call Saul when the show debuts in February, as well as streaming rights for all five seasons of Breaking Bad itself.
Also on Stan's list of exclusive shows are Mozart in the Jungle, and the Golden Globe-winning hit new show, Transparent.
According to Stan CEO Mike Sneesby, all three shows will remain exclusive to the Stan streaming service for as long as they're produced.
And if that's not enough, fans of the cult comedy Community will be getting access to the sixth season first on Stan. The exclusive deal means Stan is the only place you can access every episode of the show in Australia.
You got some good shows Stan, I think you need some browsing
A multi-year content licensing agreement with Viacom International Media Networks means that Stan users will have access to shows from Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Comedy Central and MTV.
Confirmed kids content includes SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Avatar: The Last Airbender, iCarly, VICTORiOUS, Drake & Josh, while the really little ones get shows like Dora the Explorer, Ni Hao, Kai-Lan and Bubble Guppies.
In terms of content for grown ups, the Viacom deal will bring shows such as South Park, Tosh.O, Reno 911!, Teen Mom, Awkward, Geordie Shore, The Hills and 16 & Pregnant.
Sounds good. What else you got, Stan?
If Geordie Shore isn't exactly the type of television you're interested in seeing, Stan's deal with BBC Worldwide will likely have you well chuffed.
Full seasons of British favourites such as Sherlock, Ripper Street, Orphan Black, Top Gear, Luther, Wallander, Parade's End, Torchwood and Doctor Who will be available to stream at launch, as well as classic comedies such as Absolutely Fabulous, Fawlty Towers, The Vicar of Dibley, Gavin and Stacey, Charlie and Lola, Extras and The Office.
Those who like their shows to be of the factual variety are also covered, with selection of documentaries from Louis Theroux and David Attenborough on offer.
Stream me up, Scotty
Stan's agreement with CBS Studios International means that Star Trek fans will be able to stream digitally remastered versions Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation, as well as the complete series of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Other CBS content includes The Good Wife, Blue Bloods, CSI, CSI: NY and *puts on shades* CSI: Miami. YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
The agreement also brings with it a range of shows from CBS subsidiary Showtime, including original Showtime shows Ray Donovan, Dexter, Nurse Jackie, Californication and The Borgias, as well as complete seasons of other classic shows that Showtime holds the rights to, such as Deadwood, Oz and Twin Peaks.
Okay, but is there any content from Aussie networks?
Since Stan is an Australian original, it makes sense that the service would offer a range of local content. Stan's licensing agreement with ABC Commercial is one such example.
Australian comedies Upper Middle Bogan, It's a Date and The Moody's are all part of the line-up, as well as Chris Lilley's excellent shows Summer Heights High and Ja'mie Private School Girl.
Drama fans get access to Rake, Redfern Now, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, Jack Irish and Janet King, and documentary fans will get such shows as Whitlam: The Power and the Passion, Gallipoli From Above and Wide Open Road.
Stan will also provide many of the kids shows that the ABC is renowned for, including Aussie shows like The Wiggles, Dorothy the Dinosaur, Guess How Much I Love You and Justine Clarke, as well as content from ABC's library of overseas shows such as Octonauts, Angelina Ballerina, Bob the Builder, Thomas and Friends, Fireman Sam, Sesame Street and Mister Maker.
And, Stan is now streaming all seven parts of the new Australian series Gallipoli, which only debuted its first episode one night prior to being made available for the service.
This is a major win for the Stan, as it marks the first time that a major Australian television event has made its way onto a streaming service in its entirety before it has even had a chance to air on traditional television.
Muy bueno, Stan! ¿Qué más?
An agreement between Stan and SBS means that the service will be streaming ethnically diverse Australian-made shows such as Wilfred, Housos and Better Man, alongside acclaimed international dramas such as The Killing, The Bridge and Prisoners of War.
While announced content has mostly been television-focused, the agreement with SBS will also bring World Movies along with it.
World Movies will provide Stan subscribers with access to the best in international cinema from over 45 countries and in more than 70 languages.
Yes – Stan offers movies, too
A multi-year deal between StreamCo and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) means that Stan will offer a range of the studio's recent titles, as well as a selection from its extensive back catalogue of movies.
A small assortment of MGM movies have been confirmed for launch, including The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, 21 Jump Street, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and the remake of RoboCop, along with back catalogue titles such as When Harry Met Sally, The Silence of the Lambs, West Side Story, Four Weddings and a Funeral and the complete franchises of Rocky, RoboCop, The Pink Panther and Legally Blonde.
Best of all, Stan has a licence to thrill with all 23 Bond films available in full HD at launch.
The MGM deal also comes with a collection of TV shows, such as the critically-lauded series Fargo, which Stan has exclusive streaming rights to in Australia, and other shows like Teen Wolf, Will and Grace and The L Word.
Let's get this show on the road, Stan
Stan and Roadshow Entertainment have announced a content licensing deal, adding a whole suite of great films to the service.
Recent Roadshow titles such as The LEGO Movie, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, The Wolf of Wall Street, Edge of Tomorrow, The Inbetweeners 2, A Walk Among the Tombstones, John Wick, The Judge will make their way over to Stan, as well as Australian films Wolf Creek 2 and Felony.
The deal also brings with it a range of back catalogue Roadshow films, including The Matrix Trilogy, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Sex and the City: The Movie and Sex and the City 2, Sherlock Holmes and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, and Aussie classics Red Dog, Mad Max and The Man from Snowy River.
More films will be arriving later in 2015, such as the Academy Award-nominated drama The Imitation Game, the Bill Murray-starring comedy St. Vincent and the Golden Globe-winning Big Eyes.
What's yet to be announced?
As Stan is the product of a partnership between Fairfax Media and Nine Entertainment company, you could be forgiven for asking "why hasn't any Channel Nine content been announced yet?"
We have to agree – it is puzzling, as Channel Nine has a huge back catalogue of beloved, locally-produced shows that would absolutely add another layer of appeal for potential Stan adopt.
While the lack of announced Channel Nine content is odd, we're keeping our fingers crossed for some announcements in time for the service's launch.
Any original content?
It's well known that Netflix is responsible for producing original shows for its own platform – House of Cards, Orange is the New Black and Marco Polo are just three examples.
The question is: will Stan be producing its own original TV shows?
Turns out the answer is yes. Stan has announced that it will be creating a pair of local Aussie dramas, including a six-part spin off series of hit Aussie film Wolf Creek. Freakishly creepy John Jarratt will reprise his role.
Also on the cards is a political drama based on the life of High Court judge Lionel Murphy, dubbed Enemies of the State. This is also set to be a six-part series.
Obviously we're still in early days here, so we expect plenty of new original content announcements as the service ramps up.
- Want to know more? Check out our Stan hands on review
from TechRadar
