Video On Demand: CableCos answer to PVRs?

Both NTL and Telewest have unveiled plans to provide Video On Demand services to their customers. Telewest's dTV service will initially be trialled with 2100 customers in the Bristol area, ahead of a Summer 2005 launch nationally. Customers will have control of the content similar to video recorders, with fast-forward, rewind and pausing of programmes available. NTL's service will be similar (initial trials in Glasgow), and offer hundreds of hours of extra content, including advert-free children's programmes, a music video jukebox service and adult content.

Both CableCos will be offering a Movie On Demand service, using FilmFlex, a joint venture company between Sony, Disney and the On Demand Group, offering hundreds of films including the latest blockbusters and golden oldies.

Telewest boss Eric Tveter said: "This new service puts consumers in control, giving them the freedom to watch the movies they want, whenever they want to watch them. It's simply the easiest way to enjoy a movie and there's no need to visit the video store, miss the end of a film or pay late fees ever again".

Links: The Register, Telewest, NTL.

Telewest Press Release

Telewest Broadband launches first wave of TV-on-demand services with FilmFlex

18-01-2005

Telewest Broadband has today launched a movies-on-demand service,   provided by FilmFlex*, to its digital television customers in Bristol. Movies-on-demand   marks the first phase of the cable company's plans to launch a wider choice   of TV-on-demand services in 2005.

The new service will initially be available to over 2,100 digital   TV customers. They will be the cable company's first customers to be able   to watch the latest films whenever they want, through their existing cable set-top   box, simply by using their remote control.

The movies-on-demand service also provides the same controls   as watching a DVD or video – once a film is ordered, customers can watch   it when they want, pause, fast forward and rewind. A wide range of films will   be available, for a set 24-hour rental period, at launch.

Eric Tveter, president and chief operating officer at Telewest   Broadband, said: “We're transforming TV as we know it by launching   a truly on-demand movie service, with DVD functionality. And this is only the   first step - we plan to ramp up our TV-on-demand services over the year with   additional TV, music and niche content to appeal to all of our one million digital   TV customers.

“This new service puts consumers in control, giving them   the freedom to watch the movies they want, whenever they want to watch them.   It's simply the easiest way to enjoy a movie and there's no need   to visit the video store, miss the end of a film or pay late fees ever again.”

The core involvement of major and independent film studios   positions FilmFlex with a unique quality and breadth of film titles on offer.   FilmFlex will initially launch its service with a range of new release titles   including 50 First Dates, Kill Bill: Volume 2, Gothika, Hildago, The Station   Agent, and Welcome to the Jungle. There will also be UK TV premieres coming   onto the service in February including Spider-Man 2 and King Arthur.

FilmFlex will be offering film titles from the libraries of   Sony Pictures Television International, Sony Classics, Walt Disney Television   International, Pathe´, Hollywood Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Miramax   Film Corporation, Buena Vista International Inc., Columbia Pictures, TriStar   and Icon. Further content deals with major and independent film studios will   be announced as the FilmFlex service continues to expand across the UK.

Andy Birchall, Chairman ON Demand Group commented: “After   three years in development, FilmFlex is delighted that this initiative has resulted   in a stunning, breakthrough VOD service for cable viewers in the UK. FilmFlex   is the first UK movies on demand service to have the backing of two major Hollywood   entertainment companies behind it, which combined with content from other major   and independent film studios, will deliver a top quality consumer experience.”

Telewest Broadband is investing around £20 million in   the development of TV-on-demand and personal video recorder (PVR) services in   2005. Starting in the summer, the cable company plans to roll out TV-on-demand   services to digital TV customers, region by region.

Consumers can find out more about Telewest Broadband's   bundle of digital TV, broadband Internet and telephone services at www.telewest.co.uk.  
  Ends

Notes to Editors:

* FilmFlex is a joint venture between Sony Pictures Television   International (a Sony Pictures Entertainment company), Walt Disney Television   International (a division of The Walt Disney Company Ltd) and the On Demand   Group.

Telewest, the broadband communications and   media group, currently passes and markets to 4.7 million homes and provides   multi-channel television, telephone and internet services to 1.76 million residential   customers.

FilmFlex, formerly known as MovieCo, is the   movie Video on Demand offering from MovieCo, the joint venture initiative between   Sony Pictures Television International (a Sony Pictures Entertainment company),   Walt Disney Television International (a division of The Walt Disney Company   Ltd) and the On Demand Group. The European Commission formally approved the   submission from MovieCo/FilmFlex for the creation of a joint venture to provide   VOD film service in the United Kingdom on 12 November 2004.

Media contacts
  For Telewest Broadband:
  Rachel Turner on 01483 582140 / 07985 805805 or rachel.turner@telewest.co.uk
  John Moorwood on 01483 582802/ 07985 801742 or john.moorwood@telewest.co.uk
  For FilmFlex:
  Nicole Price on 0207 289 4440 / 07891 934 488 or nicole@pagetbaker.com

How does movies-on-demand work?
  Customers will not require any new equipment. Telewest Broadband has storage   hardware at regional locations within our cable network, where we can hold large   numbers of movies. Our movies-on-demand service makes all the material available   to the viewer at home, and at the touch of a button.

A simple on-screen menu, navigated by our standard TV remote   control, allows the customer to browse a menu of movies before purchasing their   chosen film for 24 hours. They can even watch a trailer of each film before   making their decision.

The movie is then played out via their existing Telewest Broadband   TV set-top box, through our ultra-fast cable network. Once the movie is selected   our customers can choose when to start watching it, as well as control the viewing   with pause, rewind and fast forward functionality. You can watch the movie(s)   when you like, as many times as you like.

The fees for films will simply be added to the customer's   monthly Telewest Broadband bill. Parental control/PIN protection is available   with the service.

NTL Press Release

ntl launches Video on Demand TV service

• First mass market launch of Video on Demand outside the USA goes live today

• New service is exclusive to ntl digital TV customers

• Free and paid for content available at the touch of a button

LONDON, 18 January, 2005 - ntl Incorporated (NASDAQ: NTLI) is today announcing the launch of its Video on Demand digital TV service. The new service, called ntl On Demand, will roll out regionally to ntl DTV customers throughout the UK, starting with our digital customers in Glasgow. This is the first mass market launch of Video on Demand (VOD) outside the USA.

ntl On Demand is a significant enhancement to the existing ntl digital TV service, offering viewers choice over and above scheduled programming. The service is exclusive to ntl and will provide access to hundreds of hours of additional programming, including advertiser-free children’s programmes, a ‘Pick of the Week’ option showing a selection of top shows from the previous seven days, a music video jukebox service, and adult content. The movie service, provided by FilmFlex, a joint venture company between Sony, Disney and the On Demand Group, will offer hundreds of films, including the latest blockbusters and classics.

As soon as the service goes live in each ntl region it will be instantly available to ntl digital TV customers. No new equipment, installation or additional subscription is required. ntl On Demand will appear within the existing Electronic Programming Guide and customers will then be able to purchase their films and TV programmes when it suits them via the remote control. Dedicated promotional channels and enhanced TV ‘red button’ functionality will also be available.

Companies who have already agreed to provide content include the BBC, Nickelodeon, Jetix, Warner Music, Entertainment Rights, VPL, The Walt Disney Company, Hollywood Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Miramax Film Corporation, Buena Vista International, Inc., Sony Pictures Entertainment, Sony Pictures Classics, Columbia Pictures, TriStar, Pathé, Icon Films and Playboy TV. Additional partners will join the service as it develops.

ntl On Demand will offer DVD style features including freeze frame, fast-forward and rewind, and programmes will be available for 24 hours from purchasing. There will also be an increasing amount of free content available to view at any time. Current films will appear on TV first through VOD, up to nine months before scheduled TV movie channels. To help customers choose which film to watch, full-length film trailers can be viewed before purchasing.

Simon Duffy, Chief Executive Officer of ntl, said: “We invested over £9bn in our high speed fibre optic network so that we could provide leading access services to our customers. VOD is the latest example of this. ntl On Demand gives our customers a wide choice of quality viewing at a time that suits them. VOD is TV the way it’s meant to be.”

More on ntl

• ntl Incorporated (NASDAQ: NTLI) offers a wide range of communications and entertainment services to residential and business customers throughout the UK and Ireland.

• ntl is the UK’s largest cable company and broadband supplier with 3 million residential customers, including over one million broadband customers.

• ntl’s fibre-optic broadband network can service 7.8 million homes in the UK.

for further information please contact:

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Alison Kirkwood, Tel: 01256 752 662, or 07788 186154
Nicola Mitchell, Tel: 01256 752 669, or 07884 057 576

Richard Oldworth, Jeremy Garcia or Mark Edwards - Buchanan Communications Tel: 0207 466 5000