By the end of 2001, video-on-demand was being tested or deployed in more than 50 cable markets. Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Cox are stepping up rollouts and marketing efforts in 2002, while Charter and Adelphia have been laying the groundwork for more VOD to come. They'd better move fast. The service is still not available in much of the U.S. ? a huge opportunity that VOD-ready overbuilders such as RCN, WINfirst and Seren would be only too happy to grab if MSOs don't get there first.
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ADELPHIA
vod: Launched in three markets in Sept. 2001.
svod: HBO, Starz, Showtime
vendors: SeaChange, Scientific-Atlanta set-tops
pricing: Provides SVOD content as free extension of premium tiers.
content: Recently added sports-on-demand to existing on-demand service.
markets: Bethel Park, Blairsville, Penn.; Cleveland, Ohio
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AT&T BROADBAND
vod: A VOD laggard due to the company's focus on expanding its high-speed and telephony businesses.
svod: No
vendor: Diva
pricing: Testing $2.99 to $3.99 in Atlanta.
content: InDemand
markets: Limited VOD tests in Atlanta (Dec. 2000) and Los Angeles (summer 2001) markets; Pittsburgh and San Francisco are reportedly next.
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BLUE RIDGE COMMUNICATIONS
vod: Now testing service in employees' homes with plans to fully deploy VOD to all digital homes by June.
svod: Now testing Starz on Demand. In negotiations with Showtime and HBO.
vendor: Concurrent
pricing: A la carte movie selection ranges from $2.95 for library titles to $3.95 for newer releases. Company is still negotiating pricing levels for SVOD content.
content: Deals with InDemand and TVN Entertainment Corp. In negotiations with studios including Warner Bros., Paramount, Disney and Fox.
markets: Launching VOD to its 6,600 digital subs (of 170,000 total) in Stroudsburg, Ephrata and Lehighton, Penn.
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CABLEVISION
vod: Available in two markets
svod: Mag Rack plus Starz, HBO and Showtime
vendor: SeaChange
pricing: Launched as a free service for four months on Cablevision's iO digital tier, which was recently reduced from $19.95 to $9.95 a month. Now charging for access to on-demand services on an a la carte basis, while SVOD packages sell for $4.95 a month each.
content: To ease navigation through iO's VOD offerings, the service now groups its more than 600 on-demand titles in such categories as Premieres, Sports. TV Encores and Mag Rack.
markets: Western Long Island, N.Y. (launched Sep. 2001) and Morris County, N.J. (April 2002)
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CHARTER
vod: Deployed to more than 2 million homes (more than 500,000 digital subs) in 12 markets. Expects to end the year with 17 additional VOD markets, making it available to half its digital subs.
svod: Expects to launch in the near future but has no firm agreements with content providers yet.
vendor: Diva
pricing: $.99 to $3.99
content: Offers about 300 movie titles from Diva. Release windows of 45 to 60 days behind Blockbuster led to lower than expected buy rates at Charter last year, so currently in negotiations with studios.
markets: Systems in Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas
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COMCAST
vod: One of the most aggressive MSOs in deploying VOD. Ended 2001 with VOD in 16 markets, making the service available to more than 3 million homes, or about 23% of its digital subscriber base. It expects to double this figure by the end of this year.
svod: Yes
vendors: Concurrent, SeaChange
pricing: Testing free on-demand strategy for SVOD. A la carte pricing for movies ranges from $2.95 for library titles to $4.95 for newer releases.
content: Expects to announce new release content agreements with studios.
markets: Mobile, Ala.; Savannah, Ga.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Baltimore, Howard and Hartford counties, Md.; New Jersey; Albuquerque, N.M.; Lower Merion and Willow Grove, Penn.; Charleston, S.C.; Howard and Hartford, Va.; Southeast Michigan
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COX
vod: Launched in San Diego and Hampton Roads, Va. Plans to launch in six additional markets by end of third quarter.
svod: Cox is negotiating with HBO and Starz Encore to procure SVOD content.
vendors: Cox uses Concurrent servers that stream to Scientific-Atlanta and Motorola boxes. Although Concurrent is primary vendor, Cox is expected to announce a second supplier.
pricing: For iControl Entertainment on Demand, hit movies are $3.95, library movies are $2.95 and alternative content is priced at $.95 to $1.95.
content: Cox surprised the market when it reached content agreements with five studios: Universal, Sony, Vivendi, Artisan and DreamWorks. The company has also procured content through InDemand.
markets: San Diego (April 2001) and Hampton Roads, Va. (Nov. 2001)
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INSIGHT
vod: First launched in June 1999 in Rockford, Ill., its flagship system for interactive services.
svod: Planning to launch in the third quarter.
vendors: Diva for hardware and content.
pricing: From $.99 for kids titles to $3.99 for movies.
content: 250 to 300 titles a month. Negotiating with TVN Entertainment for more movie titles.
markets: Indiana (five systems); Columbus, Ohio; Illinois (three markets); Kentucky (three markets)
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MEDIACOM
vod: Testing in its Mobile, Ala., system, which has 22,000 basic subs including 5,500 digital subs.
svpd: Mobile trial includes HBO on Demand.
vendor: Concurrent
pricing: Details n/a
content: 600 hours of programming. In negotiations with TVN Entertainment, which has deals with several studios, for additional content.
markets: Expects to add two additional test markets this year in its North Central and Midwest operating divisions.
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TIME WARNER CABLE
vod: Building on its VOD tests in Hawaii, Tampa and Austin, VOD is now available in nine of its systems, with 29 more markets now in the planning stages.
svod: HBO on Demand
vendors: Concurrent, nCube, SeaChange
pricing: Testing free on-demand.
content: This summer expanding beyond movies and HBO's roster of hit shows to include sporting event replays and music videos.
markets: Eight markets ? Los Angeles, Tampa Bay, Hawaii, Cincinnati, South Carolina (three), Texas (two) ? with 30 more now in the works.
