Frontier Evolves its OTT Video Aggregation Play

Frontier Communications announced today that it is expanding its OTT video play with the launch of TumTiki, an online video website that the telco is calling “the largest video library of any web destination site.” TumTiki offers access to more than 700,000 video titles from a combination of traditional broadcast TV and online sources. Of particular note, the service is available to all Internet users, regardless if they are Frontier broadband subscribers.

TumTiki features TV shows, movies and original web series. Major networks are on board such as ABC, NBC, Fox, Bravo, FX, Syfy, HGTV, AMC, National Geographic, Comedy Central and TBS. In addition to network content, TumTiki has a large selection of local sports and news from select local TV affiliate stations. About 90% of all videos on the site are free and ad-supported, with others available for purchase via a pay-per-view rental option through Amazon.com.

TumTiki is primarily a video aggregation site. Most of the content is housed on other sites, such as Hulu and Amazon. TumTiki provides the search interface and an embedded player to watch the content, meaning that viewers don’t have to leave TumTiki.com. This is an evolution from myfitv.com, Frontier’s initial OTT video portal launched back in February 2010.

“TV and movie watchers are very resourceful in searching multiple sites and services to find the content they want, but they are tired of constant searching. Consumers told us they would prefer an all-in-one browsing, searching and viewing experience. That’s makes TumTiki unique. Everything is readily available at TumTiki.com,” said Melinda White, executive vice president, revenue development, at Frontier Communications, “Giving viewers more control and personalization over their entertainment options is our focus at Frontier Communications. TumTiki offers high-quality, free and video-on-demand paid content, in a convenient web-based format.”

In addition to its content, TumTiki offers social features, enabling viewers to curate collections of videos with Facebook friends and earn TumTiki badges and points for watching shows.

Frontier has made an interesting foray into the online video realm. TumTiki is a free website that strives to provide added value to Frontier’s broadband customer, by aggregating video content into one, easy-to-use video search portal. At the same time, the website hopes to generate new revenue through advertising and video sales. It’s an interesting approach, but can it compete in the competitive OTT space? Time well tell.

For more, see this release.