Akimbo Preps Pay-Per-View Internet Video

Just weeks after replacing its CEO, Akimbo Systems Inc. is making changes to its core business model, announcing that next week it will begin offering its video-on-demand assets to PCs on a pay-per-view rather than subscription basis.

The company initially announced plans for such an offering in August, when it detailed a partnership with Sonic Solutions, which is providing technology for the service.

Akimbo did not say why the service has taken more than seven months from technology partnership to beta availability on Windows XP and Vista PCs, but development did not begin until after the deal was cut, according to a company spokesman.

The company, which is funded by AT&T Inc., Cisco Systems Inc. and others, also said that later this year it will let consumers securely burn its videos onto recordable DVDs that play on standard DVD players as well as PCs.

The content owner said it uses the Sonic Solutions Roxio Venue, a rich media management application, to make the new service available on PCs.

Akimbo said users with high-speed broadband connections can use Roxio Venue to select, manage and take advantage of the download feature, and users can begin to watch videos before the download is complete.

Akimbo is one of a growing list of companies who are making their content available over the Internet using either rental or download-to-own models. The company is known for providing its aggregated content, which comprises network programs and specialty content, for AT&T’s Homezone Internet and satellite TV service combo.

Last month, Akimbo named media industry veteran Thomas Frank president and CEO, replacing the firm’s original CEO, Josh Goldman, in a bid to build stronger ties with Hollywood and advertisers.

Akimbo Systems Inc. www.akimbo.com

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