Viacom to launch Spike channel on Fetch TV from July 1

Viacom is set to expand its portfolio of television channels in Australia with the company set to launch its Spike channel on Fetch TV on July 1, Mumbrella can reveal.

Spike, an entertainment brand for adults known for TV shows such as Lip Sync Battle, hosted by LL Cool J, mixed martial arts show Bellator MMA, and UK police documentary, Police Interceptors.

“We’re excited to partner with Fetch TV to bring Spike, the brand new destination for entertainment, action, sport and lifestyle content to Australia”, said Simon Bates, vice president and head of MTV, Comedy Central and Spike in Australia and New Zealand.

“Spike delivers original programming created to engage, inspire and push the boundaries of the unexpected, including Bellator, the world’s leading mixed martial arts competitions, and Lips Sync Battle, the global phenomenon that has smashed rating records on Spike in both the US and the UK.”

In Australia, Spike will cater to a demographic of 18-39 year olds with a catalogue of content direct from the US and the UK.

The announcement comes ahead of an event tonight with IPTV service Fetch TV, which is aligned with telcos Optus, iiNet and Dodo, when the company is expected to make a series of major product and content announcements.

“Spike is an unique and exciting channel that will have great appeal to our growing subscriber base,” said Scott Lorson, CEO of Fetch TV. “Our growing partnership with Viacom now covers seven leading linear channels, with the most recent additions, Comedy Central and Spike, being commercial-free and available only on Fetch TV.”

Fetch TV has been seeking to challenge Foxtel’s supremacy of the pay-TV market with a lower contest IPTV product which is bundled with the telco’s landline and internet offerings.