On Demand Weekly

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ODW rounds up stories affecting the VOD Industry.

Comcast boasts new releases on-demand, same day as DVD

Comcast announced ten blockbuster movies available this month on-demand, day-and-date with the Blu-ray and DVD releases. Some titles available simultaneously with disc releases include The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3,  Brüno, and Angels & Demons, and all available in both standard and high-definition quality... (HD Report)

Why VOD is turning into a profitable avenue for indie filmmakers

VOD is certainly here to stay and growing at 20 percent annually, according to recent industry estimates, which has prompted more and more distribution companies, from the biggest studios to the smallest indies, to stake their future on it... (Filmmaker Magazine)

Success stories for video-on-demand

Low-budget supernatural thriller "Dark Mirror" premiered at the New York Latino Film Fest in 2007. Since then, it hasn't played in a single U.S. theater, but it's become the top-selling title in IFC's video-on-demand library, racking up an estimated 110,000-120,000 buys... (Variety)
 

ODW rounds up stories affecting the VOD Industry.
 

Thanksgiving weekend had highest transactions in history

By far the biggest VOD rental boost came Thanksgiving weekend, when Four Christmases, Angels & Demons, G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra and Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs all debuted on VOD. “Thanksgiving week was our single highest week ever for transactional movies and VOD,” Comcast senior VP and general manager of video and entertainment services Derek Harrar said.…(Video Business)
 

Pushing VOD to the Edge

Comcast's Project Infinity, for example, is aiming to vastly scale up the amount of video on demand to someday deliver 100,000 or more choices, at least five times what the operator currently offers....(MultiChannel News)
 

Web-TV Divide Is Back in Focus With NBC Sale

“Hollywood needs a toll collector,” said Todd Dagres of the venture capital firm Spark Capital, and “Comcast can play the part because online video will erode traditional cable.”:..(New York Times)

ODW rounds up stories affecting the VOD Industry.

Nielsen: Top 10 "Timeshifted" Primetime TV Programs Rank Programs

1 Battlestar Galactica  SYFY 59.4
2 Mad Men AMC 57.7
3 Damages FX 56.3…

ODW rounds up stories affecting the VOD Industry.

Comcast launches 100th VOD day and date with DVD

“More than 100 times this year, there was no faster way to watch a new release movie at home than with Comcast On Demand,” said Derek Harrar, senior VP/general manager of video and entertainment services for Comcast. “We pioneered day and date, so we’re thrilled that our studio partners were able to nearly triple our day-and-date movie offerings in favor of our customers.”...(Video Business)

Independent Film in 2009: An Analysis Through Quarter 3

Turning to (Video On Demand) distributors, the most prolific were Magnolia Pictures, IFC Films, and Sony. In Q1-Q3, Magnolia released 21 new specialty titles, followed by IFC with 19, and Sony with 17, mostly through Sony Pictures Classics. The next closest was Here Films with 11. Signifying the rise of video-on-demand (VOD), all of IFC’s releases, and nearly half of Magnolia’s, were released in tandem with a VOD release......(Blogger News Network)

A Christmas (and Hanukah) List to Help Save Independent Film

Support Indie Films on Video On Demand. An emerging distribution outlet for many indies is day and date VOD, in which the film is available in a few theaters across the US and simultaneously available on VOD. Unfortunately, many VOD menus favor studio films and make it difficult to find independents. However, if you look, you can find them. Check out IFC, Film Buff and other new independently oriented VOD channels. When you find a new film, invite your friends over and watch it together one night this holiday season. By initiating yourself and your friends into the VOD experience, hopefully you will continue to use it as a way to watch independent movies which will in turn support them...(Huffington Post)

The year might almost be over for us but Shakira's 2009 is still going on.  Five months after her latest disc - She Wolf - was released, Shakira teamed up with Comcast on December 15th to provide her fans, her soon-to-be-fans, and those who are just curious a special Shakira channel on Comcast On Demand available through December 31, 2010.

“On Demand allows another way for me to connect with my fans,” said Shakira. “My American fans can now see and hear me whenever they like."

The videos offered contain every single phase of her career, from Spanish singing folk-pop singer to scantily clad belly dancing vixen to her current status as globally famous dance-pop queen.  Among many of the songs offered by Comcast On Demand are:

-Hips Don't Lie
-Whenever, Wherever
-Underneath Your Clothes

Twilight reigned as top Verizon FiOS VOD renter

Even some of the fourth quarter’s biggest releases weren’t enough to knock Summit Entertainment’s Twilight out of the top spot for video-on-demand release of 2009 on Verizon FiOS...(Video Business)

Comcast 'Police Blotter' VOD Has Nabbed 90 Fugitives To Date

“D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, "This creative partnership between the Metropolitan Police Department and Comcast will give District residents the unique opportunity to take action and work together with law enforcement to help reduce crime."  (MultiChannel News)

The decade in television: Cable, the Internet become players

One thing, however, will remain the same: There's no such thing as a free program. People who think otherwise, who think they'll be able to see any show they want without watching ads or forking over some fee, are kidding themselves. You'll pay for shows in the coming decade, or you'll no longer have them....(USA Today)

Were you one of the few people at work today who didn't see the US vs England World Cup match this weekend? Never fear if you're a Comcast digital cable subscriber. You can watch a replay of the exciting match in its entirety along with other matches throughout the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

PRESS RELEASE

“Comcast is thrilled to extend the reach of independent movies into living rooms across the country, providing more exposure for these films, which have a passionate following,” said Diana Kerekes, Vice President of Entertainment Services for Comcast. “It’s all part of giving our customers more choice, value and a sense of excitement and closeness to indie filmmakers. With the popularity of indie films, we’re proud to be working with leaders in this field, like Edward Burns, Tribeca Film, SnagFilms and others, to make that happen.”

On Demand Weekly provides new movie reviews of hot movies on demand from the POV of watching from the comfort of your home. Today’s review: “The Fence.”
Email Jean

In 2006, in the frenzied fear of Homeland Security, Drugs, and Illegal Immigration, Congress decided that what this country needed was a fence. A great big, expensive fence to protect us from the terrorists, drug dealers and illegal immigrants coming from Mexico. And so it was. Sort of. Rory Kennedy’s incisive documentary explains the foibles and follies of our protective boundary with Mexico. (Note that no one has suggested one with Canada).

Back in 1999, I saw Ms. Kennedy’s first documentary, “American Hollow,” and although heartfelt and sincere, it certainly lacked polish. Well, no longer. “The Fence” is not only entertaining and educational; it is also a highly polished and concise piece of documentary filmmaking. At a brisk 36 minutes, “The Fence” cleverly informs the viewer without undue polemicizing.

Email Lindsay

CATFISH - Premieres January 4

This documentary was directed by Ariel Shulman and Henry Joost.  Rated PG-13

On Demand the same day as DVD, before Netflix or Redbox.

HOWL - Premieres January 4 
This unrated drama stars James Franco as the poet Allen Ginsberg, with Mary-Louise Parker and Jeff Daniels.  Rated PG-13

On Demand the same day as DVD, before Netflix or Redbox.

THE LAST EXORCISM - Premieres January 4 
This fictional horror film, shot in the style of a documentary, stars Patrick Fabian and Ashley Bell.  Rated PG-13

On Demand the same day as DVD.

MACHETE - Premieres January 4 

This Robert Rodriguez-directed, action-packed satire stars Danny Trejo, Jessica Alba and Robert DeNiro, and features smaller roles by an all-star cast.  Rated R

On Demand the same day as DVD, before Netflix or Redbox.

SALT - Premieres January 4 
This action film stars Angelina Jolie as a badass double agent: CIA operative/Russian assassin.  Rated PG-13

On Demand before Netflix.

SHREK FOREVER AFTER - Premieres January 5
This final, fourth chapter in the animated film series features the voices of Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, and Eddie Murphy.  Rated PG

Available in 3D.

DESPICABLE ME - Premieres January 6

Email Lindsay

CATFISH - Premieres January 4

This documentary was directed by Ariel Shulman and Henry Joost.  Rated PG-13

On Demand the same day as DVD, before Netflix or Redbox.

HOWL - Premieres January 4 

This unrated drama stars James Franco as the poet Allen Ginsberg, with Mary-Louise Parker and Jeff Daniels.  Rated PG-13

On Demand the same day as DVD, before Netflix or Redbox.

THE LAST EXORCISM - Premieres January 4 

This fictional horror film, shot in the style of a documentary, stars Patrick Fabian and Ashley Bell.  Rated PG-13

On Demand the same day as DVD.

MACHETE - Premieres January 4 

This Robert Rodriguez-directed, action-packed satire stars Danny Trejo, Jessica Alba and Robert DeNiro, and features smaller roles by an all-star cast.  Rated R

On Demand the same day as DVD, before Netflix or Redbox.

SALT - Premieres January 4 

This action film stars Angelina Jolie as a badass double agent: CIA operative/Russian assassin.  Rated PG-13

On Demand before Netflix.

SHREK FOREVER AFTER - Premieres January 5

This final, fourth chapter in the animated film series features the voices of Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, and Eddie Murphy.  Rated PG

Available in 3D.

DESPICABLE ME - Premieres January 6