Harmonic has confirmed that Multimedia Polska, a leading cable and IPTV service provider in Poland with more than 600,000 subscribers, has deployed Harmonic’s on-demand solutions for its new video-on-demand (VOD) service launched in September 2007. Multimedia Polska is the first cable operator in Poland to roll out VOD, and the service, initially available in six […]

From David Del Valle in Madrid The technology company InOut TV has launched Butaca TV, a kind of a VoD service that will allow Spanish viewers to hire up to 10 latest-released TV movies through DTT by sending a SMS message. Equipped with a PVR device and with access to DTT, viewers will be able […]

blinkx has inked a partnership deal with BBC iPlayer, the BBC's online on-demand service, to give blinkx viewers direct access to the latest BBC TV footage. Through the partnership, BBC iPlayer programmes will be searchable and accessible via blinkx.com with a preview offered to users prior to viewing on the BBC's iPlayer download or live […]

Internet video firm Akimbo, which initially positioned itself as a content aggregator, is now introducing a turnkey service aimed at content companies that want to deliver video-on-demand through their own web sites. Akimbo is billing its new B2B product — which includes a consumer programme guide, download manager, content-publishing system and advertising- and program-rights-management capabilities […]

Disney-ABC Television Group announced a deal with its Affiliate Association that expands the network’s ability to make content available on an on-demand basis through cable, DBS and Telco distributors. The agreement allows local affiliates to participate in the “fast-forwarding disabled” VOD offering through local advertising sales opportunities. Additionally, this landmark agreement lifts ABC’s re-purposing restrictions, […]

The planned video-on-demand joint venture service from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, is set for a June launch. The news leaked after the BBC asked DoubleClick, the online advertising technology provider, to ask its aency clients to attend a briefing. ITV or Channel 4 will sell the ads for the venture that will act […]

At the end of 2007, a survey by the European Audiovisual Observatory and the French Government’s Media Development Department found 258 VoD services in operation in the 24 European countries covered, compared with 142 services at the end of December 2006. This upsurge in the number of services is largely explained by the fact that […]

Cablevision Mexico has become the first digital cable television company to enhance its video-on-demand operations with SeaChange flash memory storage and streaming. Mexico’s largest digital cable operator has switched on SeaChange International’s MediaServer Flash Memory Streamers, seamlessly extending Cablevision ‘s SeaChange Axiom software and disk-based server operations.

From David Del Valle in Madrid The Spanish state-owned group, RTVE -that operates the terrestrial TVE 1 and La 2- and the incumbent telco Telefonica have signed a 3-year strategic agreement to promote and develop joint multimedia projects through all existing distribution platforms. The agreement, signed by the presidents of the companies, Luis Fernández and […]

The Diffusion Group has released its latest report on web-based video services, “Attributes of a Successful Online Movie Download Service” provides a detailed analysis of primary consumer research regarding 10 different service attributes, ranging from content considerations to interactive features. “Online movie services have to date failed to gain a critical mass of users,” noted […]