CONtv

CONtv was an American over-the-top streaming brand created for audiences interested in comic conventions, genre entertainment, and broader geek and nerd culture. It was launched in March 2015 by Cinedigm, the digital entertainment company now associated with the Cineverse brand, in partnership with Wizard World, the convention organizer now known as Wizard Entertainment. The service combined a niche streaming library with material connected to the convention ecosystem, including cult and genre films, television programs, digital comics, behind-the-scenes features, and convention-related content. The brand’s proposition was built around fandom rather than a broad general-entertainment catalog. Its programming addressed viewers interested in science fiction, horror, fantasy, comic books, cult cinema, and personalities associated with convention culture. This positioning differentiated CONtv from mainstream subscription services by emphasizing specialist discovery and fan-community relevance. Its programming included original and exclusive material such as Fight of the Living Dead, a reality-format production following digital personalities in a zombie-apocalypse scenario; Last Fan Standing, a fan-oriented game show hosted by Bruce Campbell; My Morphing Life, a reality series following actor Jason David Frank at conventions; and Mythica: A Quest for Heroes, a fantasy feature starring Kevin Sorbo. CONtv also pursued distribution beyond a conventional standalone streaming application. In November 2017, Cinedigm announced a 24-hour linear version of the service, branded as the CONtv Always On channel, on Twitch, the livestreaming platform owned by Amazon. The move reflected the period’s expansion of streaming brands into free or ad-supported and linear digital channels, while also giving CONtv a way to reach audiences through a platform already used by online fan communities. Cinedigm expanded its digital genre portfolio through the acquisition of Viewster in February 2019. Viewster subsequently merged with CONtv on June 13, 2020, bringing the two services together under the CONtv operation. The merger was part of Cinedigm’s broader effort to consolidate specialist streaming properties and libraries. The service’s later history was shaped by Cinedigm’s acquisition of Digital Media Rights, the company behind brands including Midnight Pulp and RetroCrush, in March 2022. Midnight Pulp had been launched in December 2014 as a platform centered on unusual, cult, and grindhouse-oriented films. After the acquisition, Cinedigm increasingly rationalized and aligned its niche streaming portfolio. In an email sent to followers on February 12, 2024, users were informed that CONtv would be rebranded as Midnight Pulp on March 1, 2024. The rebrand ended CONtv as a distinct consumer-facing service, although some of its genre-oriented positioning and content strategy continued within the Midnight Pulp brand. CONtv was available through a range of connected-device and digital distribution channels during its operation, including Roku, Apple iOS, Android, Xbox, smart televisions, and YouTube. Because the brand was rebranded rather than continuing as an independent service, its current status is best described as defunct as a standalone brand.

CONtv emerged in March 2015 from a partnership between Cinedigm and Wizard World, the organizer of comic and popular-culture conventions. The service was designed around a clearly defined fandom audience rather than the mass-market entertainment model of large general streaming platforms. Its catalog included cult films, television series, digital comics, convention footage, and behind-the-scenes material. The association with Wizard World gave the service a direct connection to convention culture and helped shape its identity as a destination for viewers interested in comics, genre entertainment, and fan communities. The programming strategy combined licensed library material with original productions and personality-driven formats. Among the programs associated with the service were Fight of the Living Dead, which placed online personalities in a fictional zombie-apocalypse survival setting; Last Fan Standing, a game show hosted by Bruce Campbell; My Morphing Life, a reality series following actor Jason David Frank during convention appearances; and Mythica: A Quest for Heroes, a fantasy feature starring Kevin Sorbo. These offerings supported the brand's emphasis on cult and genre entertainment while giving it recognizable talent and original programming beyond a simple library service. In November 2017, Cinedigm announced CONtv Always On, a 24-hour channel distributed through Twitch. This extended the service from an on-demand catalog into a continuously programmed digital channel and placed it on a platform with an established online audience. CONtv was also distributed through connected devices and digital outlets including Roku, Apple iOS, Android, Xbox, smart televisions, and YouTube. Cinedigm continued to consolidate its digital properties. It acquired Viewster on February 5, 2019, and Viewster was merged with CONtv on June 13, 2020. The transaction brought another streaming operation into the CONtv structure and reflected the industry's movement toward portfolio consolidation among niche digital services. A further change followed Cinedigm's acquisition of Digital Media Rights in March 2022. Digital Media Rights owned or operated specialist services including RetroCrush and Midnight Pulp. Midnight Pulp, launched in December 2014, focused on unusual cult and grindhouse films, making it adjacent to CONtv in audience and programming orientation. Rather than maintain both brands as separate services indefinitely, Cinedigm chose to use Midnight Pulp as the continuing identity for part of this genre portfolio. On February 12, 2024, an email to CONtv followers stated that the service would be rebranded as Midnight Pulp on March 1, 2024. The 2024 change marked the end of CONtv as a standalone consumer brand. Its history illustrates a common pattern in specialist streaming: a service begins with a narrow community proposition, expands through device and channel distribution, absorbs or combines with another platform, and is ultimately folded into a larger brand portfolio to reduce overlap and concentrate marketing and content operations.

• 2024

  CONtv is rebranded as Midnight Pulp

  [1]CONtven.wikipedia.org

  Cinedigm notified followers that CONtv would be rebranded under the Midnight Pulp name on March 1, ending CONtv as a separate service.

• 2022

  Cinedigm acquires Digital Media Rights

  [1]CONtven.wikipedia.org

  Cinedigm acquired Digital Media Rights, bringing genre streaming brands including Midnight Pulp and RetroCrush into its broader portfolio.

• 2020

  Viewster merges with CONtv

  [1]CONtven.wikipedia.org

  Viewster was merged into CONtv on June 13, consolidating the two digital entertainment services.

• 2019

  Cinedigm acquires Viewster

  [1]CONtven.wikipedia.org

  Cinedigm acquired Viewster, a transaction that preceded Viewster's later merger with CONtv.

• 2017

  CONtv Always On launches on Twitch

  [1]CONtven.wikipedia.org

  Cinedigm announced a 24-hour CONtv channel on Twitch, adding a linear livestreaming format to the service's on-demand offering.

• 2015

  CONtv launches

  [1]CONtven.wikipedia.org

  Cinedigm and Wizard World launched CONtv in March as an over-the-top service for fans of geek culture, conventions, comics, and cult genre entertainment.

A specialist streaming service for comic-convention audiences and fans of cult, horror, science-fiction, fantasy, comics, and other geek-culture entertainment.

• Streaming service · 2015

  CONtv streaming service

  The core CONtv product was an over-the-top streaming service aimed at comic-convention audiences and fans of geek culture. Its programming mix included cult classic films, television series, digital comics, behind-the-scenes features, and convention-related material. The service was distributed through multiple connected-device and online platforms, including Roku, mobile operating systems, Xbox, smart televisions, YouTube, and other digital outlets.

• Linear digital channel · 2017

  CONtv Always On

  CONtv Always On was a continuously programmed, 24-hour version of the brand announced for Twitch in 2017. It translated CONtv's specialist genre catalog into a linear livestreaming channel and provided an alternative to selecting individual programs from an on-demand library.

• Original series

  Fight of the Living Dead

  An original CONtv program built around digital celebrities attempting to survive a staged, real-world zombie-apocalypse scenario. The format combined reality-style competition with horror and online-influencer entertainment, matching the service's interest in genre fandom and internet-native personalities.

• Game show

  Last Fan Standing

  A fan-oriented game show associated with CONtv and hosted by Bruce Campbell. The program used a recognizable genre-culture personality to connect competition and trivia-style entertainment with the service's audience of devoted film, television, and pop-culture fans.

• Reality series

  My Morphing Life

  A reality program following actor Jason David Frank through convention appearances and related fan events. Its subject matter directly reflected CONtv's connection to comic conventions and its focus on the relationship between genre performers and enthusiast communities.

• Original feature film

  Mythica: A Quest for Heroes

  A fantasy feature associated with CONtv and starring Kevin Sorbo, known for his role in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. The film represented the service's effort to offer original or exclusive genre-oriented feature content alongside acquired films and series.

• 2024

  Rebrand as Midnight PulpStrategy

  Background

  After acquiring Digital Media Rights and its genre-focused brands, Cinedigm had overlapping specialist services, including CONtv and Midnight Pulp.

  Action taken

  Cinedigm notified CONtv followers that the service would adopt the Midnight Pulp name on March 1, 2024.

  Aftermath

  CONtv ceased operating as a distinct standalone brand, with the continuing service positioned under the Midnight Pulp identity.

  Source

• 2020

  Integration of Viewster into CONtvM&A

  Background

  Cinedigm acquired Viewster in 2019 and subsequently consolidated the service with its existing CONtv operation.

  Action taken

  Viewster was merged with CONtv on June 13, 2020.

  Aftermath

  The merger reduced separation between the two specialist streaming operations and expanded the assets managed under the CONtv identity.

  Source

• 2017

  Expansion into a 24-hour Twitch channelStrategy

  Background

  CONtv was primarily an on-demand niche streaming service, while Twitch provided a large digital audience and a livestreaming environment suited to fan communities.

  Action taken

  Cinedigm announced the CONtv Always On channel, offering continuous CONtv programming through Twitch.

  Aftermath

  The move broadened CONtv's distribution model by adding a linear online channel to its on-demand and connected-device presence.

  Source

• 2020.09.16

  Reported2020.09.16

  Cinedigm signs multi-year content deal with Nelvana[2]Cinedigm与Nelvana签署多年内容合作协议cordcuttersnews.com

  Cinedigm signed a multi-year deal with Nelvana to bring children’s titles to Cinedigm’s Dove Channel and CONtv, adding 52 hours of children’s content to the streaming channels.

Read more

1. 1CONtven.wikipedia.org
2. 2Cinedigm与Nelvana签署多年内容合作协议cordcuttersnews.com