8 Niche TV Streaming Networks That You Didn't Know Existed

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, you’ll be aware of the meteoric rise of streaming platforms and the far-reaching impact they've had on the world of television. Netflix is undoubtably the most recognisable name in the game, having grown into a media juggernaut that can boast the frontrunner for this year’s Academy Award for Best Picture amongst the thousands of original films, series and specials it offers.

Elsewhere Amazon have smartly capitalised on their strengths as a retailer to transform their LoveFilm business into Prime Video, whilst catch-up services such as BBC iPlayer and over-the-top sports offerings such as the WWE Network are as widely viewed as traditional live television broadcasts.

New platforms are constantly appearing, adding further to what has rapidly become a saturated market. The bubble is sure to burst at some point soon, particularly given the forthcoming launch of Disney+, which is going to squeeze out a lot of its smaller competitors with the depth of properties that the company own or are set to own following their acquisitions of Marvel, Star Wars and much of Fox’s back catalogue.

For now, however, there are hundreds of platforms attracting customers with specific interests by targeting niches, akin to the specialist cable television channels of yesteryear. Here are eight of these lesser-known services, all with something unique to showcase in comparison to the spectrum-covering offerings of the big guns.

Focus – Horror

The horror genre is far from mainstream, as for every film or franchise that garners significant attention, such as Saw or Halloween, there are hundreds of other releases unleashed on the world every year. These are made possible by low budgets and the cult following that the genre enjoys, with many people prioritising scares, gore or ‘so bad its good’ status over the action sequences, drama, and storytelling sought out by others.

The SyFy channel has thrived for years targeting such people, whereas Shudder has emerged as an equivalent for those who want to watch things on their own time rather than when scheduled, offering a mix of both original and acquired content in the form of both films and television series.

The range of titles available is incredibly diverse, incorporating vintage British Hammer Horror, worldwide greats such as Japan’s Battle Royale and Sweden’s Let The Right One In and timeless American classics such as the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Having aired more than 40 original productions in their first 2 years, Shudder have been far more proactive than the likes of Netflix (who took 5 years to release their first original) and Amazon (who took 2 after rebranding to Amazon Instant Video) at tapping into the market previously dominated by traditional television. Such a prolific output must represent a huge financial commitment from owners AMC (the American network responsible for Mad Men and Breaking Bad), but it seems to be paying off for now.