JOURNY Provides Millions of Users with 24/7 Access to Award-Winning Entertainment at the Intersection of Travel, Art, and Culture
Ovation TV, America’s only arts network, announced today that its award-winning travel-entertainment channel JOURNY is now streaming on VIZIO (NYSE: VZIO) SmartCastⓇ TVs. Now SmartCast users have round-the-clock access to JOURNY’s award-winning HD and popular shorts focused on immersive experiences and unique storytelling. Powered by Ovation and designed for the conscientious traveler, JOURNY centers on world travel, cultural tourism, and global citizenry.
WatchFree+ is VIZIO’s free streaming service available on SmartCast, no logins, subscriptions or fees required. SmartCast comes equipped with every VIZIO smart TV to power endless entertainment options for millions of households right out of the box. Audiences can now find JOURNY in the WatchFree+ electronic program guide (EPG) on channel 557.
Utilizing a network of talented and passionate travel filmmakers, producers and creators, JOURNY brings together the voices and stories that make us connected and human. The channel features high-profile and recognizable stars in both the food and travel worlds: travel across Japan by train with actor Henry Golding (Welcome to the Railworld Japan), eat around the world with TV host Lee Chan (World Food Tour), visit the most iconic and luxurious hotels with actor Richard E. Grant (Hotel Secrets), and follow alongside the late Anthony Bourdain in his quest for the ultimate dining experience in No Reservations.
“JOURNY’s footprint continues to grow thanks to our exciting new distribution with VIZIO,” said Will Marks, SVP, Business Development and Digital, Ovation TV. “We are thrilled to share our exceptional programming with WatchFree+’s millions of users. As Ovation continues to add unique titles to the JOURNY library, SmartCast users will experience global travel and cultural experiences all from the comfort of their homes.”
“For years, Ovation TV has been focused on connecting audiences with the arts and entertainment they love, so we couldn’t be more pleased to welcome JOURNY to WatchFree+ as VIZIO strives to continue offering all of the content users want,” said Katherine Pond, Vice President of Business Development at VIZIO. “We are excited to continue expanding our content offering on WatchFree+ with compelling content and artful storytelling like JOURNY’s to cater to the travel and cultural enthusiasts on SmartCast.”
Some of the most popular and exciting titles on JOURNY include:
Africa with Ade Adepitan
TV presenter and athlete Ade Adepitan is on a mission to change people’s preconceptions of Africa. The continent is made up of almost fifty different countries with complex cultures, people, food, and language, and there is beauty and diversity to be found everywhere.
Lee Chan’s World Food Tour
With her taste buds leading the way, Lee Chan travels to every corner of the world cooking up local favorites, modern delicacies, and delicious desserts. From the markets of Asia to the wilds of Africa, Lee’s energetic zest for life will see her feasting on a menu of culture and cuisine.
Welcome to the Railworld Japan
Grab your ticket to a nationwide train journey of the Land of the Rising Sun with Henry Golding. Discover the rich culture, fascinating attractions, and mouth-watering delicacies of Japan.
Richard E. Grant’s Hotel Secrets
They’re the world’s most exclusive hotels, offering luxury beyond which any of us mere mortals are likely to experience. They’re also famously discreet… ordinarily. But in the outrageously direct, intoxicatingly funny presence of Oscar-nominated Richard E. Grant, secrets come spilling out. Steamy affairs, scandals and A-list excess are revealed in this juicy insight into an exclusive VIP world.
David Rocco’s Dolce Vita
Tuscany is the home of “cucina povera” or peasant cuisine, Chianti, and the Renaissance. Tuscany is where food, art, fashion, and culture are part of everyday living. Join David Rocco in his search for simple, accessible Italian cuisine and La Dolce Vita.
Travel Man
This is Richard Ayoade’s chance to show viewers where they’re going wrong by having the most culturally efficient vacation possible, with all the boring bits taken out. In each episode, Richard and a celebrity travel pal jet off to an exciting location for a 48-hr city break. In each location, he challenges himself to see and do as much as possible, stretch his dollar, and subject so-called tourist attractions to his ruthless scrutiny.
Travels with Darley
Six-time Emmy Award-nominated host Darley Newman travels with local people in beautiful and awe-inspiring locations to experience history, culture, food, music, art and adventure. Shot in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and USA, Darley takes viewers swimming with sharks in Dubai, bungee jumping off the world’s highest commercial tower in Macao, skiing in Tahoe with Olympian Jonny Moseley and free diving with a community of women whose centuries old practices in South Korea are recognized by UNESCO.
Chasing the Sun
Follow adventure-seeker, former pro surfer, and international model Stephen Friedman (The Blueprint on Fox Networks) as he travels the world. The series tells stories through the locals Stephen meets. In season 2, co-produced with JOURNY, Stephen travels throughout Asia, including stops in Malaysia, Vietnam, Bali, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, and India.
Other titles on JOURNY include: The Pacific with Sam Neill; Xploration Awesome Planet; Resilient Cities; Surfing the Menu; The Voyager with Josh Garcia; Rock the Park; Great Wide Open; DNA Dinners; and Gordon Ramsey’s Great Escape. With new titles coming to JOURNY every month, viewers are able to travel the world all from the comfort of their homes at any time.
The latest WatchFree+ programming is now available on all VIZIO SmartCast TVs. For more information about WatchFree+, visit www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus.
For more information on JOURNY, please visit: ovationtv.com/journy
About JOURNY
JOURNY is the only travel-entertainment app at the intersection of travel, art, and culture! Watch award-winning television series and popular shorts focused on immersive experiences and unique storytelling for FREE! Powered by Ovation and designed for the conscientious traveler, our programming centers world travel, cultural tourism, and global citizenry. Utilizing a network of talented and passionate travel filmmakers, producers and creators, JOURNY brings together the voices and stories that make us connected and human. Journy is available on 300MM+ screens via Fire TV, Apple TV and iOS devices, Android, Roku, XUMO, Vewd, Samsung TV Plus, Vizio, and Plex.
About OVATION TV America’s Only Arts Network
As an independent television, production, and digital media company, OVATION TV has an unparalleled commitment to the arts, culture, and captivating entertainment. Showcasing a lineup of critically acclaimed premium dramas, specials, documentaries, and iconic films, OVATION TV salutes innovative storytelling with popular programming that includes Inside the Actors Studio, Murdoch Mysteries, Riviera, Frankie Drake Mysteries, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, The Fall, Luther, Midsomer Murders, Landscape Artist of the Year, Grand Designs, Amazing Hotels, Chasing the Sun, and Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations. Ovation also powers JOURNY, the dedicated streaming service where art, culture, and travel intersect. The company has provided more than $15M in contributions and in-kind support to arts institutions and arts education. Its signature advocacy platform, STAND FOR THE ARTS, includes a coalition of over 130 arts organizations, cultural institutions, and arts leaders throughout the country raising awareness about art’s positive impact, protecting access for everyone, and encouraging action on behalf of the arts. OVATION TV is available on major providers via cable, satellite and telco systems including Comcast Cable/Xfinity, DIRECTV/AT&T U-verse, SPECTRUM, Verizon FiOS, as well as on demand. You can follow OVATION TV on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, OvationTV.com, and through our App, OVATION NOW.
About VIZIO
Founded and headquartered in Orange County, California, our mission at VIZIO Holding Corp. (NYSE: VZIO) is to deliver immersive entertainment and compelling lifestyle enhancements that make our products the center of the connected home. We are driving the future of televisions through our integrated platform of cutting-edge Smart TVs and powerful SmartCast™ operating system. We also offer a portfolio of innovative sound bars that deliver consumers an elevated audio experience. Our platform gives content providers more ways to distribute their content and advertisers more tools to target and dynamically serve ads.
For more information, visit VIZIO.com and follow VIZIO on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.