TORONTO and CALGARY – Look for some heavy marketing of Sopranos On Demand when the popular New Jersey mob series resumes in March of 2006.
Both The Movie Network and Movie Central today announced agreements with HBO that will allow the two Canadian pay channels to make the popular U.S. movie channel’s content available to subscribers, on demand.
Sopranos On Demand (launch date for the next season is said to be March) should be a popular consumer driver to the two on demand services – and to digital TV in general.
HBO programming will be made available as of January 3rd to TMN and Movie Central customers as part of the popular SVOD service each currently offers (The Move Network OnDemand in the east and Movie Central Express in the west). Until now, the channels’ HBO content was not available as part of the SVOD service.
The two pay services’ SVOD option allows subscribers to watch HBO programming – in addition to Hollywood hit movies, Canadian feature films, exclusive Showtime series and original drama series’ – when they want (after its first original air date), as many times as they want, 24 hours a day, at no additional cost.
"It is undeniable that video-on-demand is changing the way viewers watch television and The Movie Network OnDemand’s overwhelming growth in the two years since the service launched is a testament to this," said Kevin Wright, senior vice-president of programming, Astral Television Networks, in a release.
"Premium programming is a key driver of on-demand, and viewers’ ability to access their favourite television series whenever they want is particularly appealing," added Andrew Eddy, vice-president and general manager, Movie Central, in its release. "Original series like HBO’s Rome have rich storylines and characters that progress with every episode. With on-demand, viewers don’t ever have to miss a chapter in the series, providing customers with unprecedented scheduling convenience and access to an ever-expanding lineup of high-quality TV series and films."
HBO series, original movies and specials will be available via SVOD for up to six months following the premiere date.
HBO programming immediately available includes Rome and the Emmy Award-winning comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm (Season 5).
