Comic-Con International to Launch Subscription TV Service This Summer

Comic-Con HQ logo

Following in Wizard World’s footsteps, Comic-Con International, owner of the San Diego Comic-Con, has partnered with Lionsgate to launch Comic-Con HQ, a subscription video-on-demand service debuting in June.

Free beta access begins May 7, Free Comic Book Day. Beta users are promised to have free and unlimited access through July 25, to include week-long live coverage of San Diego Comic-Con. The channel aims to provide year-round access to the fan community and genre enthusiasts. Here’s their description:

Comic-Con HQ logo

The ad-free streaming service will feature an evolving slate of programming including original scripted and unscripted series, recurring daily and weekly entertainment commentary, plus unique access to a growing library of live and archival programming from their world-class events, a highly-curated selection of film and TV genre titles, and behind-the-scenes access and bonus features from genre titles that defy and define pop culture.

At launch, programming will be available via browser or iOS and Android devices. More devices will be available later this year. No word yet on cost. Lionsgate already runs a similar movie-on-demand service.

The most exciting element to me sounds like the archives of con programming, including the Masquerade and the Eisner Awards, but they’ll also feature “the scripted comedy series Kings of Con inspired by real-life fan convention experiences from Supernatural stars Richard Speight and Rob Benedict”; a Her Universe reality show “following contestants as they design their geek couture concepts for the catwalk of a live San Diego Comic-Con fashion show”; and entertainment news and commentary. “Other formats on the fast track are two roundtable discussion shows, one weekly movie talk in partnership with Complex’s Collider inspired by their popular Collider Movie Talk series, and another all-female panel on pop culture from a female perspective.”



4 comments

  • CONtv is also doing this. Their parent company is co-owned by Wizard World and are doing something similar for Wizard World shows. They at one time had advertised an agreement with Comic Con, but I never saw them there. Then again, I typically only go to the comic book based panels and if they ever were there, they’d probably want to film the celebrity stuff. I’m not surprised that Comic Con would want to work with a different company (or do it themselves) vs putting money in the pockets of a competitor.

    CONtv goes beyond just comic con stuff, they also have a lot of movies, cartoons, etc.. for the ‘nerd’ crowd. I think they are trying to be a Netflix for nerds.

  • Yeah, I wrote about that in the first link in the post. Checking the CONtv site shows some mentions of C2E2 right now.

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