TORONTO and PHILADELPHIA – Corus Entertainment Comcast Corporation, the largest U.S. cable company, today announced the mid-July launch of Vortex On Demand, a new video-on-demand service providing programming for kids ages six to 12.
Vortex On Demand programs will be available at no additional charge for Comcast Digital Cable customers and available as part of the Comcast On Demand Kids & Teens menu. Terms of the deal between the Canadian content company (owners of Nelvana and YTV, among other assets) and the 21.5 million-customer MSO were not announced.
This new partnership provides Comcast access to hundreds of hours of animated children’s shows produced and distributed by Nelvana Limited, a Corus subsidiary. Nelvana will be responsible for programming the Vortex lineup of shows that will be available each month on Comcast On Demand, including:
• Jacob Two-Two
• Tales from the Crypt Keeper
• Pippi Longstocking
• Dumb Bunnies
• Flying Rhino Junior High
• Stickin’ Around
• Cadillacs & Dinosaurs
• Elliot Moose
• Moville Mysteries
• My Dad the Rock Star
“This multi-year deal, which includes 393 half-hours of animation, is a clear indicator of the value of on-demand and underscores the value of our programming library,” said John Cassaday, president and CEO of Corus Entertainment. “Vortex On Demand demonstrates the synergy of our vertically integrated company, looping in our content division Nelvana and the branding and packaging expertise of our television division to offer quality children’s shows available at anytime.”
“Video on demand programming is one of the things that makes cable service better than satellite,” said Steve Burke, president of Comcast Cable. “We’re pleased to launch Vortex On Demand and offer families a wider range of shows that appeal to children of all ages.”
Comcast On Demand also offers programming for infants and preschoolers with PBS Kids Sprout and Pre-K Kids On Demand and is available to 90% of the company’s customers in markets across the United States. Corus has also licensed a number of classic Nelvana preschool series such as Care Bears and Rupert to support Comcast’s Pre-K Kids ON Demand service.
