A new Chicago-based streaming service, which launched in beta mode late last month, is undertaking a hefty mission to produce and curate all of their own content to set themselves apart from Netflix, Hulu and Amazon.
Indistry TV, founded by sisters Mary Landaverde and Erroll Angara, aims to target millennial audiences who are constantly craving fresh content. Landaverde, who has more than 20 years of experience in brand strategy and marketing, has worked with Playboy Enterprises and Miss America pageants.
Right now, there's about 60 titles available on Indistry TV, with more being added every day, she said.
"All of our programs are original and they are appealing to the millennial lifestyle," Landaverde said. "They are not licensed from the big studios, like Disney or Warner Bros. We really want to carve ourselves out as a unique and original platform where new, fresh ideas and content is born and can be viewed."
The service provides six categories of content, including TV shows, movies, live-stream events, emerging artists, celebrity reels and industry talks, the company's versions of TED Talks. When producing content, Indistry will contract out production teams and actors in the area where filming is taking place, Landaverde said. Additionally, content creators can submit their content to be considered for streaming. Content ranges from topics such as, travel, food, fashion, art and sports.
Additionally, Indistry TV is interactive, allowing users to shop for items they see in a show, donate to a cause, and share what they're watching on Twitter and Facebook. For example, if a viewer is watching a music video that includes a product placement deal, an option to buy the product will appear on the screen.
"It's the first of its kind out there, because unlike other streaming services, we are interactive," Landaverde said.
Indistry TV offers consumers a 30-day free trial. But after that, a monthly subscription for their standard plan, which includes unlimited TV shows and movies, costs $7.99. A premium subscription that includes TV shows, movies, celebrity reel channels and unlimited live stream content is $9.99 per month. And a VIP membership, which includes everything in a premium subscription, plus live events, exclusive content, merchandise discounts and a $100 Apple gift card, costs $350 per year.
Indistry has eight employees and works out of the music and film tech incubator Fort Knox Studios in Irving Park. They are self-funded, but also have one undisclosed investor. Later this year, Landaverde said there are plans to raise a Series A funding round.
To celebrate their beta launch, Indistry TV is hosting an event Oct. 21 at the Virgin Hotel Chicago, hosted by Emmy-winner Mario Lopez. Additionally, there will be performances by emerging artists Raquel Castro of “Empire” and “The Voice,” Chicago hip-hop artist ZVerse and LA-based artist Greg Marks.
