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Seven to live stream three broadcast channels from December

The Seven Network will start live streaming its three broacast channels from December 1.

The seven West Media company has made the move as a part of its long-term strategy to deliver content to all Australians across any connected device.

Seven, 7TWO and 7mate will soon be available across all delivery platforms and in all Seven-owned capital cities and regions from December 1.

Ahead of the full launch in December, Sunrise viewers will be able to stream the show on the existing PLUS7 app.

The launch builds on Seven’s video on-demand service, PLUS7, which sits within Yahoo!7. 

PLUS7 will now deliver Live and Catchup, complementing the company’s expanding presence in SVOD with its Presto partnership with Foxtel.

Seven West Media chief digital officer, Clive Dickens,  said: “Our audience demands a live streaming service!

"They love Seven and they love their smartphones. We can now bring their favourite shows live, free and on the go, seamlessly streamed on mobile and online, as we cement our position as Australia’s leading ‘mobile first’ content company.

“All Seven Network owned channels will stream from December via PLUS!7 and we have advanced plans to live stream also within the 7Sport App and the 7News App in line with our content everywhere strategy. 

"We will be adding other mobile first products and platforms to extend our reach especially live, free and out of home.”

Seven West Media managing director and chief executive, Tim Worner, said the company was redefining the way Australians watched live TV. 

"We are a content company. Our future is television. Our growth is mobile," he said. 

"A big part of our future is video. Today provides clear evidence that we will be a driving force in the development, creation and delivery of content in a rapidly changing communications landscape.”

Seven West Media chief revenue officer, Kurt Burnette, said powerful storytelling was at the core of the television business. 

"The benefits for our audiences and opportunities for our advertisers are enormous," he said. 

"Our move into the live-streaming underscores our leadership and will drive greater engagement across all of our platforms and extending reach out of home, on any screen.”

Seven’s move into live streaming follows the success of its coverage of The Australian Open. 

Seven is also set to deliver the most comprehensive, innovative multi-platform and technologically advanced Olympic Games coverage with its delivery across all communications devices of the Games in Rio de Janeiro.

During The Australian Open, Australian audiences were able not only choose between matches on Seven and 7TWO, they also had the option of watching one of sixteen matches during the day and three at night through Hybrid TV on smart TVs, mobile and tablet. 

Over 1.2 million Australians chose to stream the Australian Open on digital platforms, with one third of the Australian Open audience accessing tennis content on digital platforms every day. 

There were over 4.4 million streams, 80 per cent of which were live streaming, and over 23 million page views during the Australian Open Series, with a social reach of over 2 million Australians.