Plex adds Web Shows feature to stream free online content

Plex is again expanding its support for streaming content found on the Web, this time announcing the addition of Web Shows. As the name suggests, this new beta feature provides users with access to streaming videos from partners, the content itself being limited only to high-quality productions. The new feature joins the relatively new Podcasts and News options.

Plex is traditionally used to stream one's own local content via a private server, but the company has expanded that ability to add streaming content located on the Web. The first expansion involved the addition of Plex News, which makes it simple for cord-cutters to get access to free, high-quality news content.

That was later joined by Plex Podcasts, a feature that enables Plex users to download and manage their favorite podcast content within the same app where they access their video content. Now the company has launched Web Shows as a beta feature for accessing free high-quality online video content.

The shows are curated content from partners, including major publishers like Fandor, Conde Nast, and Studio 71. The interface resembles the same one in which users browse and download podcasts; videos are split up into categories like "Recommended" and "Trending Episodes."

Plex says it has included a large number of personalization options to help users access the content they want to watch. It appears users can choose specific shows to add to their "My Web Shows" catalog, which is a roster of shows the user watches. As with one's movies, the interface presents publisher information, genres and categories, and other relevant video information.

SOURCE: Plex