TiVo signs video-on-demand deal with studios
Seven’s TiVo has signed a deal allowing its customers to rent video on demand from NBC Universal International Television Distribution, Icon Film Distribution and Umbrella Entertainment.
The announcement:
Hybrid Television Services (ANZ) Pty Limited, the creator of CASPA On-Demand and the exclusive licensee of TiVo® products in Australia and New Zealand, today announced that it has signed comprehensive video on-demand (VOD) content agreements for Australia with NBC Universal International Television Distribution, Icon Film Distribution and Umbrella Entertainment. From today, CASPA will showcase more internationally acclaimed and locally produced new release and library titles, including Hollywood Blockbusters, Independent and Arthouse titles. The new studio agreements boost the CASPA new release and library movie portfolio two-fold to give CASPA customers more choice than ever before, without the need to pay late fees or the inconvenience of leaving the lounge room.
NBC Universal is the fourth major studio to provide its movie catalogue to the CASPA On-Demand service, joining Paramount Pictures, Sony Entertainment and Disney Media Distribution. From September, CASPA customers can indulge in an array of hit new release and library movies including; Green Zone, The Wolfman, It’s Complicated and classic library titles such as 40-Year-Old-Virgin, American Gangster, Apollo 13, The Bourne Trilogy, Lost in Translation and The Pianist – with more exciting titles to follow.
Icon Film Distribution is renowned as a leading distributor of theatrical feature films and adds an outstanding range of diverse titles to CASPA including FAME, 30 Days of Night, Precious, The Road and Paranormal Activity.
Hybrid TV has also signed Umbrella Entertainment, a leading Australian Independent studio to offer CASPA customers their first taste of independent film classics like; Stone, Sirens, Adventures of Barry McKenzie, The Big Steal and Puberty Blues.
“Home Video on-demand represents an exciting growth opportunity in content distribution and Icon is looking forward to the prospect of making its new and library feature films available to the on demand consumer via the CASPA service,” said Greg Hughes, Chief Operating Officer, Icon Film Distribution.
“Our goal for CASPA is to build a world class digital entertainment destination which offers unparalleled on-demand movie and TV content sourced from both Australian and international content creators. It’s all about high quality, legal content that Australians can access at the touch of a button from their lounge room. We are proud to present NBC Universal, Icon Film Distribution and Umbrella Entertainment’s content to a nation waiting to be entertained, through their TiVo,” said Robbee Minicola, Chief Executive, Hybrid TV.
About Hybrid Television Services (ANZ) Pty Limited
Hybrid Television Services (ANZ) Pty Limited is the exclusive licensee of TiVo products in Australia and New Zealand. The TiVo media device is HD Digital Ready in accordance with the Australian Government’s Digital Ready Scheme, Freeview compliant in Australia and Freeview|HD compatible in New Zealand. In December 2009, Hybrid TV launched its proprietary content and service platform CASPA On-Demand in both the Australian and New Zealand markets, premiering in the TiVo device.
CASPA is a trademark of Hybrid Television Services (ANZ) Pty Limited.
The TiVo product was originally pioneered in 1997 in the USA by TiVo Inc. In 2008, TiVo technology was brought to Australia by Hybrid Television Services (ANZ) Pty Limited in August 2008 and was launched in New Zealand 1 November 2009. Hybrid TV is owned by the Seven Media Group (Australia) and TVNZ (New Zealand).
Source: Channel Seven – Tivo press release
