Bond, James (VoD) Bond

In an effort to cash in on the upcoming theater release of the latest James Bond release Quantum of Solace, Comcast Corp. (CMCSA) has begun providing 22 previous 007 flicks, some free, but most available until the end of the month for $2.99 on video-on-demand.

The cableco is also providing a free preview of the latest installment along with free extra such as Bond Girls, Bond on Location and Best Ever Bond. The VoD offering puts trilogies in the rearview mirror and demonstrates packaging possibilities for hardcore fans.

Cablecos have built and expanded their VoD content libraries, initially as a competitive edge over satellite-based TV providers, but less of an advantage over telcos vowing to make big gains.

Specifically, Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) has vowed to add 100 HD titles to its VoD library per month by yearend. The telco also recently launched a new FiOS TV promo that gives new customers unlimited free VoD that had been pay, for 90 days.

Comcast and some others have forged ahead by offering new episodes of popular TV series such as the CSI franchise, on free VoD the next day. That has boosted allure of on-demand, which gives users flexibility in viewing and a lesser reliance on appointment TV.

Some smaller telcos had complained about the cost of deploying VoD, which ironically, provide an additional source of TV revenue beyond service subscriptions and in-home rentals of equipment such as set-top boxes and digital video recorders.

Since then, some enterprising companies have pulled together the necessary pieces to provide turnkey packages to these operators.

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