Expanding VoD and Adding User-Generated Content

While VoD services have been a staple of cableco video packages for some time, service providers are continually looking for new ways to keep the programming fresh and, in some cases, bring the viewer experience into the fold.

At The Cable Show this week, an array of content companies plan to showcase the latest in programming to help cable firms evolve their VoD assets well beyond libraries of big-name, mass-audience TV shows and pay-per-view movies.

Steve Bellamy, creator of the Tennis Channel and founder of Atonal Sports and Entertainment, will be in Las Vegas pitching his new offering, The Ski Channel, to cablecos as an innovative means of making VoD more compelling. The network, initially a VoD offer, will feature user-generated content from the slopes, as well as weather forecasts and key data needed for those planning ski trips.

“Granted, there are a lot of challenges, but ski trips are very capital intensive, with planners needing a variety of information before and during them, like locating a restaurant to gather at in the evening,” said Bellamy. “I’m surprised this opportunity has stayed open so long.”

The Ski Channel will be ad-supported, which means users will not have to pay subscription fees, said Bellamy. “That should help us grab a big audience of customers relatively quickly,” he said.

Bellamy has cut a deal with Time Warner Cable to distribute The Ski Channel’s programming, starting in the first quarter of 2008. Given the high value users place on sports programming and the informational element this channel offers for trip planners, the creator is betting other cabelcos will see the channel as a must for their video packages.

Also at the show this week, TVN Entertainment Corp. will be pitching its new HD VOD Club, a high-definition, programming service that showcases VoD content from major Hollywood studios, Starz Entertainment and event suppliers. The club delivers about 50 hours of HD on-demand programming each month.

The offering has quickly been embraced by service providers. It’s launching with Bend Broadband, Blue Ridge Cable Television and Charter Communications.

"VoD and high definition are simultaneously redefining the television viewing experience," said Jim Riley, executive vice president of TVN Entertainment. "In order for our affiliates to remain competitive, TVN is creating customized HD VoD solutions that ramp up as our affiliates' HD customer base grows, and the HD VOD Club is step one in that process."

In addition to the HD VOD Club, TVN supplies the cable industry with HD on-demand programming from leading cable and VoD networks including Discovery, MTV, National Geographic, Sportskool and Versus.

On the focused content front, TVN has just launched its seventh VoD channel, Caught on Demand, which features unscripted, real-life video gathered from security and surveillance cameras, police cruiser cameras and personal cell phones. The programs, which are five to seven minutes long and consist of three to six segments, are themed according to content such as “Unbelievable Chases,” “Amazing Crashes” and “Dumbest Criminals.” The “crash/slash” content category has shown great appeal, especially to young and affluent audiences, according to TVN.

TVN’s roster of networks also includes: The Karaoke Channel, featuring a continually updated library of more than 15,000 tracks for sing-a-long available to 20 million homes; Kids Unlimited, a unique children’s package promoting learning and good behaviors; Music Unlimited, an eclectic showcase for music videos from all genres; Telecentral, a destination for Spanish-language movies, events and children’s programming; Urban Xtra, a channel dedicated to edgy independent movies; and Ambient.TV, original “motion paintings” from a fusion of constantly moving individual artwork images and music to enhance home décor during downtime for the TV set.

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