Benzinga | Jan 18, 2022 09:23AM EST

Cinedigm Highlights Launch Of Robert Rodriguez's El Rey Network On XUMO As Linear, Video On Demand Channel

Cinedigm(NASDAQ:CIDM),the leading independent streaming company super-serving enthusiast fanbases, announced today that the El Rey Network, co-founded by Robert Rodriguez (From Dusk Till Dawn, Sin City, Spy Kids), John Fogelman and Cristina Patwa, has launched on XUMO as both a FAST (free ad-supporting streaming TV) & VOD channel. El Rey Network will join XUMO's incredible catalog of over 200 channels, reaching millions of viewers across smart TVs, web, mobile and set-top devices. XUMO, the US streaming television service owned by Comcast, provides free entertainment across 12 genres such as live news and events, sports, comedy, kids and family, music, and more.

Curated by Rodriguez and his artistic collective, the Latinx-inclusive, English-language channel speaks to Rodriguez's vision to create a destination that more fully represents the changing face of America and the most culturally diverse generation in history. Featured El Rey Network content includes:

* Rodriguez's thoughtful conversations with creatives like John Carpenter and Quentin Tarantino in "The Director's Chair"

* "Rebel Without A Crew: The Series" in which filmmakers set out to make their first feature under Rodriguez's guidance

* "Lucha Underground" which introduces U.S. audiences to the high-flying, explosive moves of lucha libre, an ancient combat tradition as good and evil wage war in a gritty battleground called "The Temple."

* Prolific Japanese Filmmaker Takashi Miike's Yakuza's Dead or Alive and Dead or Alive 2

* Iconic Blaxploitation Film The Final Comedown starring Billy Dee Williams

* Wes Craven's influential horror franchise The Hills Have Eyes and The Hills Have Eyes 2

"Robert Rodriquez, whose name is synonymous with creativity and innovation, has inspired a whole generation of filmmakers," said Jennifer Soltesz, Vice President, Business Development & Strategy at Cinedigm. "More than ever, representation matters, and, with this channel, Rodriguez has given a platform for Latinos to tell their stories and define themselves. XUMO allows the El Rey Network to reach a massive new audience and, through this curated vision, will allow the channel to generate substantial advertising revenue among a key demographic in the growing AVOD & FAST space."

An innovator in the digital transformation of the entertainment industry for more than two decades, Cinedigm's core mission is to entertain the world by building the world's best portfolio of enthusiast channels and services for the streaming generation. Through a diverse mix of premium SVOD services and dedicated AVOD and FAST channels, Cinedigm's streaming portfolio reaches indie film (Fandor), horror (Screambox & Bloody Disgusting) and family entertainment (Dove Channel), as well as dedicated channels for iconic entertainers, led by Bob Ross (The Bob Ross Channel). Cinedigm's ultimate goal is to build destinations that immerse viewers in content they love while staying at the forefront of technology as the streaming industry continues to evolve.