CuriosityStream

CuriosityStream

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Headquarters	Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
Area served	Worldwide
Founder(s)	John S. Hendricks, Founder of the Discovery Channel
Key people	Elizabeth Hendricks North (President); Steve Burns (EVP, Content); Peter North (Chief Digital Officer)
Owner	CuriosityStream, LLC
Website	www.curiositystream.com
Type of site	Video on demand
Registration	Subscription to CuriosityStream.com required to access nonfiction content
Available in	English
Launched	March 18, 2015 (2015-03-18)
Current status	Active

CuriosityStream is a global ad-free subscription video on demand service. It exclusively delivers nonfiction documentaries and series about science, technology, history and nature. Launched on March 18, 2015, CuriosityStream is currently headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland. CuriosityStream offers its users about 1,400 original and licensed titles and about 600 hours of nonfiction media.

As of December 8, 2015, Amazon Prime is offering CuriosityStream as part of its new 'add-on' subscription service. Amazon-CuriosityStream is a separate subscription from CuriosityStream's main SVOD plan in that it will only permit access via Amazon Prime's platforms and is only available to Amazon Prime members.

Overview

The founder of the Discovery Channel, John S. Hendricks, launched CuriosityStream on March 18, 2015 as an ad-free subscription video on demand service exclusively delivering nonfiction documentaries. The company launched its services internationally on September 29, 2015.

Programming

CuriosityStream's content library is divided into four main areas: Science, Technology, Civilization, and Human Spirit. The sub-categories of these four pillars are divided as follows.

• Science: Biology, Earth, Genetics, Medicine, Mind, Nature, Physics, Space
• Technology: Artificial Intelligence, Communications, Energy, Engineering, Nanotechnology, Privacy & Security, Social Web, Transportation
• Civilization: Business, Conflict, Democracy, Economics, Entrepreneurship, History, Politics, Society
• Human spirit: Art, Character & Values, Creativity, Dramatic & Performing Arts, Health & Wellness, Literature, Music, Philosophy

Original Content

CuriosityStream has produced a number of popular short-form documentaries and series through its entity Curiosity Studios, including:

• A Curious World
• Destination: Pluto, featuring Alan Stern
• Destination Mars featuring Peter Diamandis
• The Health Of Our Oceans featuring Sylvia Earle
• The Road To The Singularity featuring Jason Silva
• Transhumanism featuring Jason Silva

Acquired Content

The service has also acquired and licensed nonfiction films from leading worldwide producers, including BBC, NHK, ZED, ZDF, ORF and TVF. Available acquired programs include:

• Next World with Michio Kaku
• The Secrets of Quantum Physics with Jim Al-Khalili
• Wild Weather with Richard Hammond
• The Nano Revolution
• Destination Mars featuring Peter Diamandis
• Cosmic Front
• One World with Deepak Chopra
• Science Vs. God
• The Human Face Of Big Data

BBC productions available to U.S. subscribers include:

• Ancient Worlds Richard Miles, Simon Russell Beale, Julie Berry & Cecile Michel
• Greek Myths: True Stories Robin Lane Fox
• Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire (a 6-part docudrama miniseries starring Michael Sheen)
• Sex, Death and the Meaning of Life with Richard Dawkins
• When Björk Met Attenborough with David Attenborough
• Crusades as well as Vikings and World of Stonehenge, both hosted by Neil Oliver.
• The Hawking Paradox with Stephen Hawking

Devices & Access

Current Supported Platforms

• Any laptop, desktop, PC, or Mac via a modern web browser
• Any Android device running Android version 4.0.3 or higher
• Apple TV via AirPlay or older generations or native app for 4th generation
• Chromecast via either the Chrome browser or any Android smartphone or tablet with Android 4.0.3 or higher
• iPhones, iPods, and iPads with iOS 7 or higher installed
• Roku streaming player: 2, 3, 4, TV and Streaming Stick
• Amazon Fire TV
• Amazon Kindle Fire

Future Supported Platforms

• Xbox One
• Native Smart TV Applications (Apple Inc., Sony, Samsung, etc.)

Pricing

The ad-free streaming service costs $2.99, $5.99 and $11.99 per month for standard definition, high definition, and ultra high definition 4K respectively. There are discounts for paying annually.

Advisory Board

CuriosityStream is advised by a number of prominent individuals with backgrounds in science, education and the arts. Advisory Board members include:

• Vint Cerf
• Glenn Close
• John J. DeGioia
• Robbert Dijkgraaf
• Bran Ferren
• Don Henley
• Michio Kaku
• Michael A. Keller
• William English Kirwan
• Jack Leslie (public relations executive)
• Wynton Marsalis
• Wayne Pacelle
• Jim Phillips (CEO, Nanomech)
• Paul Saffo
• Richard Satava
• David Evans Shaw
• Rick Smolan
• Jill Tarter
• Michael Weber (founder, MindLab)

CuriosityStream Advisory Board members have offered supportive statements toward the overall initiative.

Media Coverage

CuriosityStream has been featured in coverage of the digital streaming revolution by Time Magazine, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Los Angeles Times,Variety ("The New OTT View-niverse"), StreamDaily, Inverse ("CuriosityStream, the Netflix for Documentaries, Bets on the Fact"), Mashable ("CuriosityStream: the new 'Netflix' for non-fiction") and MultiChannel News.

Curiosity Retreats

In addition to its streaming video service, CuriosityStream hosts Curiosity Retreats (http://curiosityretreats.com/), a 5-day event featuring various speakers, including scientists, authors, and other luminaries. These lifelong learning retreats are held annually at Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa in Gateway, Colorado.