Stirr
 Stirr logo | |
Type of site | streaming multi-channel platform |
|---|---|
| Owner | Sinclair Broadcast Group (2019-2024) Thinking Media (2024-present)[1] |
| URL | stirr |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Launched | 16 January 2019 |
| Current status | Active |
Stirr is an American ad-supported video streaming service owned by Thinking Media. The streaming service is available on the web and via apps for iOS, Android devices and various streaming TV devices, including Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, and Android TV. Stirr's slogan is, "the new free TV."
History
[edit]Sinclair Broadcast Group began developing its technological infrastructure for the service before July 2017. Stirr would be formally announced in October 2018. Adam Ware would be Stirr's general manager.[2] Sinclair hired Scott Ehrlich to head up the service and hired staff in Los Angeles and Seattle.[3] Ehrlich was the Vice President of Emerging Platform Content at Sinclair.[4] Prior to Stirr, Sinclair had also owned the Hummingbird streaming platform as well.[2]
Stirr was launched on January 16, 2019[5] via a website and apps for iPhones, Android devices and various streaming TV devices,[5] Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Roku.[6] With the pending acquisition of the Fox Sports Networks, Sinclair indicated that they were looking at synergies between Stirr and those RSNs.[7]
Sinclair Digital, Compulse (Sinclair's digital advertising unit) and Sinclair’s local stations would coordinate between them with ad revenue shared with content partners.[6] Compulse was promoted through Sinclair's local stations.[2]
Sale to Thinking Media
[edit]The last official press release referring to Stirr as an operating concern was in June 2022.[8] Two years later, Stirr was sold to Thinking Media in January 2024. As a result, all remaining live streaming content owned by Sinclair (by that point including only the four remaining Sinclair-owned subchannel networks; as Sinclair had shut down Stirr City and cancelled its agreements with all other outside channels) was removed from the service.[1]
Channels
[edit]Stirr carries a variety of FAST channels among its current programming.
Under Sinclair ownership, Stirr originally drew on programming from Sinclair-owned TV stations and other live streaming channels, with some programming also available on demand.[5] Although there are several US city regions to choose from when navigating the service, users did not have any geographic restrictions on what they could view.[9] There were 20 national channels at launch on January 16, 2019[6] with expectations of having 50 by the end of the year.[9] Stirr ultimately carried around 100 channels at its peak.[10]
Stirr City was the service's primary streaming channel, which pulls content based on the location/station selected. When network programming ran on the local OTA channel, Stirr City would air alternate programming drawn from the other Stirr channels. WJLA-TV of Washington, D.C. was set as the default if no Sinclair news-carrying station is nearby.[5] Second feeds could also be added to a local station's 'channel' during breaking news or severe weather events. Such was done for WBMA-LD's Stirr channel, where meteorologist James Spann's live coverage of tornadic events in the Birmingham, Alabama market and Alabama in general is popular nationwide.[citation needed]
Stirr featured a number of private label channels at launch, including Stirr Movies, Stirr Sports and Stirr Life.[6] The service also carried other Sinclair-owned networks (such as Comet, Charge!, Stadium and Tennis Channel's streaming channel The T).[2] Also, Stirr has TV series based channels.[11][12] In addition, third-party networks carried on the service have included Buzzr and Circle (the latter owned by rival Gray Television), which Stirr stated was the most popular channel on the platform as of July 2019.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Cheng, Roger (24 January 2024). "Sinclair Confirms Sale of Free Live Streaming Site STIRR to Startup". Cord Cutters News. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d Lafayette, Jon (January 16, 2019). "Sinclair Launching Stirr With National, Local Programming". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
- ^ Bloom, David (December 6, 2018). "Sinclair's Ripley STIRRs The Pot For New National, Localized Streaming Service". Forbes. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
- ^ "Netflix Turns Up Heat In Online Video's Shark Pool As Three More Services Jump In". TV[R]EV. 2019-01-17. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
- ^ a b c d Anderson, Mae (January 16, 2019). "Sinclair debuts Stirr streaming service for its local TV stations". USA Today. Associated Press. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
- ^ a b c d Perez, Sarah (January 16, 2019). "TV broadcaster Sinclair launches STIRR, a free streaming service with local news and sports". TechCrunch. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
- ^ Hayes, Dade (May 8, 2019). "Sinclair Looking To Add Live Sports Broadcasts To Its STIRR Streaming Service". Deadline. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ^ "Sinclair Names Adam Ware Senior Vice President, Growth Networks Group". Sinclair, Inc. June 15, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
- ^ a b Littleton, Cynthia (January 16, 2019). "Sinclair Enters Streaming Arena With Entertainment Bundle and Local Channels". Variety. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
- ^ "Sinclair is Selling its Free Streaming Service STIRR". 23 January 2024.
- ^ Bouma, Luke (July 20, 2019). "Stirr Just Added Three New Channels to Its Lineup". Cord Cutters News. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
- ^ Bouma, Luke (October 26, 2019). "The Free Streaming Service STIRR Has Added 6 New Channels to Its Lineup". Cord Cutters News. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
- ^ Bouma, Luke (July 17, 2019). "Sinclair's Free Stirr Streaming Service Plans to Add 12 New Channels & Hits 1 Million Downloads". Cord Cutters News. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
