Qwest TV

What Qwest TV does

Qwest TV is a Paris-headquartered, privately held video streaming platform co-founded by Quincy Jones that specializes in curated music content spanning jazz, soul, funk, world music, and global Black music traditions. The company operates two primary consumer products: Qwest TV Live, a free 24/7 FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) channel accessible without an account, and Qwest TV+, a paid subscription VOD service with a catalog of 1,300+ concerts, documentaries, archival performances, interviews, and originals curated by Quincy Jones, music icons, and expert curators.

The platform is built on a standard video streaming architecture (VOD catalog plus live linear feed) and is distributed across 30+ endpoints including smart TV platforms (Samsung, LG, Android TV, Apple TV, Roku), FAST channels (Samsung TV Plus, Pluto TV, Plex Live, Rakuten TV, VIDAA), pay-TV operators (Comcast Xfinity, Cox), app stores (iOS, Google Play, Huawei AppGallery), and aggregator channels (Amazon Prime Video). Distribution depth in 40+ countries — combined with the QWEST HVOD 360 initiative funded by the EU's Creative Europe MEDIA Programme (2025–2026) and support from the French CNC — underpins an explicit strategy to scale an independent European streaming platform via multiple go-to-market motions rather than a single D2C subscription funnel.

The business model is multi-stream: (1) tiered subscription revenue from Qwest TV+ (Standard with ads at $5.99/month or $4.99 on annual; Premium ad-free at $9.99/month or $7.99 on annual, with a 30-day free trial and promotional campaigns); (2) ad-supported monetization via the free Qwest TV Live FAST channel and the ad-supported Standard VOD tier; (3) revenue-sharing arrangements with platform distribution partners; (4) non-dilutive European public funding (Creative Europe, CNC); and (5) an emerging institutional/education licensing segment. The go-to-market combines PLG self-serve subscription, channel partnerships with major streamers and pay-TV operators, and a community-led guest curator program featuring artists such as Sonny Rollins, Gregory Porter, Toumani Diabaté, Anoushka Shankar, Carl Craig, and Daptone Recording Co.

Name

Qwest TV

Legal name

Qwest TV

Website

https://qwest.tv

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Qwest TV is a Paris-based music video streaming platform co-founded by Quincy Jones, offering curated concerts, documentaries, archives, and interviews on jazz, soul, funk, and global Black music across subscription VOD and a free 24/7 FAST channel on 30+ global platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Video Streaming

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621), Television Broadcasting Stations (516120)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Cable & Other Pay Television Services (4841)

akta.pro primary industry

FAST Linear Streaming Channels (Ad-Supported) (MPABAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Aggregator/Platform Channels & Marketplace Bundles (Channel Stores, Super-Aggregators) (MPABAHAM)

Keywords

• Music video streaming
• Concert documentaries
• Curated music platform
• Video on demand
• FAST channel streaming

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Subscription VOD (Premium): Premium ad-free subscription offering full access to 1300+ content catalog including concerts, documentaries, archives, and originals with HD or 4K quality
2. Subscription VOD (Standard with ads): Lower-priced subscription tier with advertising, providing access to full catalog at reduced monthly cost
3. European Subsidy (Creative Europe): European subsidy from Creative Europe MEDIA Programme supporting QWEST HVOD 360 project through 2025-2026 for new business models and global expansion
4. Platform Distribution Revenue: Revenue sharing arrangements with distribution partners including Samsung TV Plus, Amazon Prime Video, Comcast, Roku, and other streaming platforms

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels25 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Qwest TV is a music video streaming platform co-founded by Quincy Jones that delivers curated concerts, documentaries, archive gems, interviews, and originals centered on Black and global music genres. It offers both a free 24/7 live FAST channel (Qwest TV Live) and a premium subscription on-demand service (Qwest TV+) with 1300+ titles in HD/4K, distributed across web, mobile, smart TVs, and 30+ partner platforms.

Product overview

Qwest TV is a music video streaming platform co-founded by Quincy Jones, offering a unified experience across two main tiers: Qwest TV Live (free 24/7 live streaming) and Qwest TV+ (premium on-demand subscription with 1300+ hours of concerts, documentaries, archives, and interviews). The QWEST HVOD 360 initiative supports European expansion. Content is curated by Quincy Jones, music icons, and expert curators, and is accessible across web, mobile apps (iOS/Android), smart TVs, streaming devices, and cable platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Qwest TV Quincy Jones' video streaming network celebrating Black and global music through premium documentaries, concerts, archive gems, and interviews curated by music icons and experts.
• Qwest TV+ Premium on-demand subscription offer featuring 1300+ diverse concerts, documentaries, and rare archive footage with hand-curated playlists by music experts and legendary artists. Available in Standard (with ads) and Premium (ad-free) tiers on all devices.
• Qwest TV Live Free 24/7 live TV channel streaming curated music content worldwide without requiring an account, distributed across FAST channels and streaming platforms.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1300+ curated content pieces available on platform
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration29 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Samsung TV PluscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFAST channel distribution across Europe (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal), India, Mexico, and Brazil.
• Comcast XfinitycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorQwest TV available via Xfinity cable subscription in USA through voice remote and on-demand search.
• Amazon Prime VideocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorQwest TV available as add-on subscription through Amazon Prime Video in Spain, with 7-day free trial.
• PlexcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFree live TV channel distribution across Europe (Iceland, Ireland, UK, Monaco, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, etc.)
• Pluto TVminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLive TV channel distribution in France, Spain, and Italy through Paramount's streaming platform.
• Rakuten TVminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLive TV distribution across 42 European countries and Japan through Rakuten's platform.
• Roku (The Roku Channel)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLive TV channel distribution in Canada through The Roku Channel.
• Xiaomi TV+minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal distribution available through Xiaomi's smart TV platform.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Spotify: Spotify is the dominant global audio streaming platform with a growing video podcast and music video catalog. It is the primary competitive benchmark for any subscription music service and competes indirectly with Qwest TV for listener attention and subscription dollars.
• Deezer: Deezer is a major global music streaming service headquartered in Paris with tens of millions of tracks and significant European market share. As a broad incumbent, it competes for the same music-listening consumer wallet, though it lacks Qwest TV's curated video and genre-specialization angle.
• Apple Music: Apple Music is a global premium music streaming service with an extensive catalog and growing video content offerings including live concerts and documentaries. As a broad incumbent, it competes for music enthusiasts' subscription spend across mainstream and specialty genres.

Direct peers

• Vevo: Vevo is the leading music video streaming platform, distributing premium music video content across YouTube, connected TVs, and mobile. It is the most direct peer to Qwest TV's curated music video streaming model, though at significantly larger scale and with broader mainstream appeal.
• Sessions: Sessions is a live concert streaming platform that partners with artists to deliver exclusive ticketed and on-demand performances. It is comparable to Qwest TV's archive of live concerts and documentaries, though Sessions focuses on new live captures rather than historical curation.
• Boiler Room: Boiler Room operates a curated music streaming and live performance platform focused on underground, electronic, and global music scenes. Its artist-led curation and live concert archive format closely mirrors Qwest TV's content philosophy and community-driven discovery model.
• Tidal: Tidal is a premium music streaming service owned by Block that offers lossless audio, music videos, and artist-curated content. It competes directly with Qwest TV in high-quality music streaming with video and exclusive artist-led curation.
• LiveOne: LiveOne is a music, entertainment, and live event streaming platform offering pay-per-view concerts, audio streaming, and original music content. It overlaps with Qwest TV in monetizing live and on-demand music performance video through subscription and ad-supported tiers.
• Stingray Music: Stingray operates curated music streaming services distributed through cable, satellite, OTT, and mobile platforms, including linear audio channels. Its multi-platform distribution model and curated content library parallel Qwest TV's FAST and SVOD strategy.

Emerging players

• IDAGIO: IDAGIO is a niche music streaming service focused exclusively on classical music, offering curated playlists, recordings, and editorial content. It shares Qwest TV's thesis that genre-specialized streaming can win against generalist services, though in a different genre vertical.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@QwestTV
• Facebookfacebook.com/qwesttv
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/qwest-tv
• Instagraminstagram.com/qwest.tv
• Xx.com/Qwest_TV

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Qwest TV