Fandango at Home Announces Major Expansion with Live Events and Cable Access
Fandango, the long-time leader in movie ticketing, is solidifying its place in the streaming world. The company’s premium video-on-demand service, Fandango at Home, has announced a major expansion that will add two key new capabilities: live pay-per-view (PPV) events and transactional video-on-demand (TVOD) support for cable subscribers. This move signals a strategic shift to become a more comprehensive entertainment platform for fans.
From Tickets to a Total Entertainment Hub
While many know Fandango primarily as a service for buying movie tickets, its streaming presence has grown significantly since its acquisition of Vudu in 2020. The platform, rebranded as Fandango at Home, became a go-to destination for renting or purchasing the latest blockbuster films, often while they were still in theaters. The latest expansion pushes the service beyond just movies, positioning it to compete with other major players in the digital entertainment space.
Live Events and Cable Reach
The two new features are designed to fill a crucial gap in the market. First, Fandango at Home will now be able to distribute live PPV events. This means it can host marquee sports matches, music concerts, and other live content, expanding its offerings far beyond cinematic releases. Second, the service is introducing enhanced TVOD capabilities for cable subscribers. This will allow cable customers to rent new movies directly, simplifying the process and catering to a traditional TV audience. These new capabilities are particularly timely, as they fill the void left by the sunset of iNDEMAND, a long-standing industry aggregator.
The Bet on Pay-Per-View’s Future
The announcement to enter the PPV space is an interesting gamble. It comes at a time when some major combat sports organizations, such as the UFC, have begun moving away from the PPV model in favor of exclusive streaming deals. However, this trend is not universal. Boxing, professional wrestling, and high-profile music events continue to rely heavily on the PPV format to generate revenue. By embracing PPV, Fandango is betting that the format will not disappear but will instead find new life through modern, streamlined digital platforms.
This strategic expansion shows that Fandango is committed to evolving with the entertainment landscape. By combining its digital innovation with the legacy of traditional content delivery, the company is aiming to unlock new possibilities for how fans access and enjoy entertainment, on their own terms.