Five views console deals as way to up on-demand usage
Five is expanding its digital team and seeking deals with games consoles and TV manufacturers to become a key destination for video on demand. The broadcaster is looking to recruit eight new members to its digital team, including a managing editor and a VOD operation editor, to boost the profile of Demand Five. Jonathan Lewis, head of digital media at Five, said the drive was a reflection of how the board has realised the value of expanding its digital... [Read More...]
Project Canvas appoints technology and marketing heads
Project Canvas has appointed Anthony Rose and Tim Hunt as chief technology officer and director of marketing respectively. The positions will be on an interim basis while the proposed on-demand TV service from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five, Arqiva, BT and ISP TalkTalk awaits the go-ahead from the BBC Trust. Rose joins from the BBC where he was future media controller of the vision and online media group. Previously he was head of digital media technology,... [Read More...]
ITV should consider paid-for VOD, says commercial MD
ITV needs to look at a paid-for model for video on demand, according to its MD of brand and commercial Rupert Howell. Speaking at the ISBA Annual Conference 2010, he said the unreliable nature of advertising meant the broadcaster has to investigate a paid-for model for its VOD service. “We have no fit-for-purpose paid process, which we have to look at because we can’t rely on the vicissitude of advertising,” said Howell. Nigel Walley, MD of... [Read More...]
Hulu and SeeSaw rival secures Five content
Five has given TV.com its first major European long-form content deal, making more than 250 hours of full-length programmes available to the CBS Interactive-owned, video-on-demand site. As part of the deal, TV.com will show a host of Five’s popular series, including ‘Neighbours’, ‘Home and Away’ and ‘The Gadget Show’. Under the terms of the deal, programmes available on Five’s catch-up TV service, Demand... [Read More...]
SeeSaw trial to launch tomorrow
SeeSaw, the online TV service born of the remnants of Project Kangaroo, will launch in full at the end of February, following a month’s beta trial starting tomorrow (26 January). The video-on-demand (VoD) service will include content from popular programmes such as ‘That Mitchell & Webb Look’, ‘Doctor Who’, ‘Cranford’, and ‘Lark Rise to Candleford’, following a deal SeeSaw struck with BBC... [Read More...]
Top Gear is most-viewed TV programme on BBC iPlayer as VoD requests top 88 million
Top Gear was the most-watched TV programme of the year on BBC iPlayer, as the VoD service overall received a record 88.2 million VoD requests. New BBC data provides insight into how users of BBC iPlayer, now available on more than 20 different devices, differ per platform. Mac and PS3 users of BBC iPlayer prefer comedy shows such as Mock The Week, while PC and Virgin Media users are more keen on drama, with EastEnders and Waking The Dead proving... [Read More...]
BT strikes deal with Fox to air 24 on-demand
BT is beefing up its IPTV service BT Vision by securing a deal with Fox to show the first four seasons of 24 on-demand. The 24 deal is part of a multiple rights agreement, through which other hit Fox series Prison Break, The X-Files and Buffy The Vampire Slayer will be available on BT Vision. BT Vision customers can access the Fox programmes as part of BT Vision’s TV Pack. Existing subscribers to the TV Pack will be able to access the... [Read More...]
Hulu seeks tie-ups with UK producers for its VoD service
Hulu, the US ad-supported video-on-demand service, is targeting the UK’s independent production community, responsible for the worldwide success of some of the UK’s biggest TV formats, in its latest attempt to gather support for its launch. The Disney, NBC and News Corp joint-venture this week hosted an evening for members of Pact, the trade body representing independent TV, film and digital production companies. The event aimed to outline the... [Read More...]
Arqiva appoints former UKTV chief as platform controller
Media technology company Arqiva has appointed former UKTV COO John Keeling as platform controller of its new video-on-demand (VOD) service. Keeling will be responsible for appointing key programming and marketing staff ahead of the launch. Before UKTV he worked at MTV, launching MTV Europe in 1987, and Sky. Arqiva announced plans to move into online video after it acquired the assets of Project Kangaroo in July. The software and platform assets from... [Read More...]