SBT launches +SBT streaming service in Brazil, exceeding 1M downloads

SBT’s pivot to a unified digital platform highlights the shift from traditional linear broadcasting to sophisticated AVOD models in high-growth Latin American markets. By leveraging Accedo's white-label infrastructure, SBT rapidly scaled to million-user levels without building a proprietary stack from scratch. This move places pressure on regional competitors like Globo to refine their free-tier offerings as domestic broadcasters fight to capture digital ad spend. The immediate high download volume suggests a strong appetite for localized FAST content over global subscription services. Watch for upcoming reporting on monthly active user (MAU) retention rates to see if initial download momentum translates into sustained viewing hours.

Accedo has built a track record of delivering white-label OTT platforms for broadcasters across Latin America and beyond. The +SBT launch on August 19, 2024, surpassed one million downloads and became the top free app in both Apple and Google stores in Brazil, a milestone that underscores Accedo's ability to scale AVOD services rapidly for large free-to-air networks. The platform aggregates more than 7,000 hours of entertainment content including films, telenovelas, series, original productions, live channels, and real-time SBT programming, all delivered across mobile, web, Smart TVs, and Chromecast devices.

SBT's decision to move its content library into a dedicated AVOD service reflects a broader monetization strategy among Brazilian broadcasters seeking digital ad revenue beyond traditional linear spots. SET Portal reported that +SBT was designed to make SBT's extensive catalog of over 100 affiliate channels available in a unified streaming environment, positioning the network to compete for viewer attention and advertising budgets in a market where Globo's Globoplay already operates a freemium model. Roberto Grosman, SBT's head of Digital Transformation, framed the service as a retention play, emphasizing that the intuitive experience was intended to bring viewers back repeatedly.

Accedo's role as a technology partner rather than a content owner places it in the same category as other OTT platform providers serving broadcasters in emerging markets. Telecompaper noted that Accedo's contract with SBT specifically covered the design, development, and launch of the +SBT platform, confirming the white-label model where the broadcaster retains full brand ownership while outsourcing the technical stack. This approach allows networks like SBT to enter streaming without the capital expenditure of building proprietary infrastructure, a model that has gained traction among mid-tier broadcasters globally seeking to monetize existing content libraries through FAST and AVOD formats.