Post by Clouseau on Dec 15, 2006 0:37:09 GMT
www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2006/13/c6904.html
The Movie Network Launches Mpix OnDemand, Canada's First On-Demand Classic Movie Service
TORONTO, Dec. 13 /CNW/ - Astral Media's The Movie Network today announced the launch of Mpix OnDemand, a subscription video on-demand (SVOD) service offering programming from its classic movie channels Mpix and Mescape. Mpix OnDemand will mark the second SVOD service for The Movie Network, which has been offering The Movie Network OnDemand since June 2004.
"The success of The Movie Network OnDemand clearly indicates that we have entered an on-demand world where consumers want and expect choice and convenience when it comes to their television viewing," said Domenic Vivolo, Senior Vice President Marketing & Sales, Astral Television Networks. "Mpix OnDemand complements our existing SVOD service by extending the program offering to include movie titles from all genres and eras. We believe the service's slate of classic hits will be extremely popular among our subscribers who are seeking recognizable titles and perennial favourites to round out their entertainment experience."
Mpix OnDemand represents a concerted business effort on the part of Astral Media to deliver more content to Canadian consumers on demand. Since launching The Movie Network OnDemand, the service has grown to an average of three million views per month and satisfaction rates of more than 90%(*), with a corresponding positive effect on business retention. Super Ecran Sur Demande, Astral Media's French-language movie service, has realized comparable success with more than half a million transactions per month.
Mpix OnDemand's programming offering will draw from a broad range of films which are five years or older, in an uncut and commercial-free environment, from suspense, thriller and action-packed movies to quality drama and light-hearted entertainment. With no schedule restraints, Mpix On-Demand will let viewers watch what they want, when they want, 24 hours a day. Mpix OnDemand has the functionality of a VCR/DVD player, allowing viewers to pause, stop, rewind and fast-forward programs. The service will offer over 30 titles at any given time with new titles added weekly.
In December, viewers can look forward to Rocky 1-5, Saturday Night Fever, Footloose, The Color Purple, Beverley Hills Cop, The Great Escape, The Princess Bride and Barefoot in the Park. Mpix OnDemand's line-up in the New Year will include favourites like An Officer and a Gentleman, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Magnificent Seven and The Pink Panther collection. Mpix OnDemand will also commemorate the Academy Awards(R) in February 2007 with a special offering of Oscar(R)-nominated and awarded movies.
The service will currently be available to Mpix subscribers of Personal TV from Rogers on channel 311 in Ontario, New Brunswick and Newfoundland. There are plans to roll out to other areas of eastern Canada in the next year. For more information, please visit www.mpix.ca
On-Demand Trends in Canada
--------------------------
The Fast Forward Trend Analysis (prepared for the CRTC) by the Toronto-based Solutions Research Group Consultants in August 2006 reported:
- 12% of Canadian households use either a DVR or VOD
- On-demand use (DVR or VOD) is expected to rise to 30% of all Canadian households in the next five years (either via cable or DTH)
- 44% of Canadian digital cable customers (just over a million households) have used VOD (paid or free)
- 58% of VOD and DVR users say on-demand has significantly increased their levels of enjoyment with television
Mpix is an Astral Media network available in eastern Canada. Mpix is a 24-hour pay-television network with the ultimate collection of great movies from every era. Mpix's affiliate channel, Mescape, features quality light-hearted drama. MHD is a dedicated high-definition classics movie channel offering select HD simulcasts of programming from Mpix and Mescape. For more information, please visit www.mpix.ca.
The Movie Network is an Astral Media network available in eastern Canada. With premiere access to Hollywood hit movies, critically-acclaimed HBO and Showtime series, and first-rate Canadian programming, this pay-television service presents Canadians with some of the best television entertainment available. The Movie Network service includes five 24-hour multiplex channels - M, MMore, MExcess, MFun! and MFest - which deliver diverse and entertaining programs in an uncut and commercial-free television environment. The Movie Network also offers The Movie Network HD, a dedicated high definition channel providing hundreds of titles in HD; and The Movie Network OnDemand, a Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD) service, available in select areas across eastern Canada. For more information, please visit www.themovienetwork.ca.
Astral Media is one of Canada's leading media companies, active in specialty, pay and pay-per-view television, radio and outdoor advertising. Astral Media's solid and dynamic presence in the country's major markets rests on its commitment to offer a unique combination of high-quality, targeted media for all its audiences. www.astralmedia.com
For further information: Media contact: Roopa Shah, Astral Television Networks, (416) 956-8584, rshah@tv.astral.com
TORONTO, Dec. 13 /CNW/ - Astral Media's The Movie Network today announced the launch of Mpix OnDemand, a subscription video on-demand (SVOD) service offering programming from its classic movie channels Mpix and Mescape. Mpix OnDemand will mark the second SVOD service for The Movie Network, which has been offering The Movie Network OnDemand since June 2004.
"The success of The Movie Network OnDemand clearly indicates that we have entered an on-demand world where consumers want and expect choice and convenience when it comes to their television viewing," said Domenic Vivolo, Senior Vice President Marketing & Sales, Astral Television Networks. "Mpix OnDemand complements our existing SVOD service by extending the program offering to include movie titles from all genres and eras. We believe the service's slate of classic hits will be extremely popular among our subscribers who are seeking recognizable titles and perennial favourites to round out their entertainment experience."
Mpix OnDemand represents a concerted business effort on the part of Astral Media to deliver more content to Canadian consumers on demand. Since launching The Movie Network OnDemand, the service has grown to an average of three million views per month and satisfaction rates of more than 90%(*), with a corresponding positive effect on business retention. Super Ecran Sur Demande, Astral Media's French-language movie service, has realized comparable success with more than half a million transactions per month.
Mpix OnDemand's programming offering will draw from a broad range of films which are five years or older, in an uncut and commercial-free environment, from suspense, thriller and action-packed movies to quality drama and light-hearted entertainment. With no schedule restraints, Mpix On-Demand will let viewers watch what they want, when they want, 24 hours a day. Mpix OnDemand has the functionality of a VCR/DVD player, allowing viewers to pause, stop, rewind and fast-forward programs. The service will offer over 30 titles at any given time with new titles added weekly.
In December, viewers can look forward to Rocky 1-5, Saturday Night Fever, Footloose, The Color Purple, Beverley Hills Cop, The Great Escape, The Princess Bride and Barefoot in the Park. Mpix OnDemand's line-up in the New Year will include favourites like An Officer and a Gentleman, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Magnificent Seven and The Pink Panther collection. Mpix OnDemand will also commemorate the Academy Awards(R) in February 2007 with a special offering of Oscar(R)-nominated and awarded movies.
The service will currently be available to Mpix subscribers of Personal TV from Rogers on channel 311 in Ontario, New Brunswick and Newfoundland. There are plans to roll out to other areas of eastern Canada in the next year. For more information, please visit www.mpix.ca
On-Demand Trends in Canada
--------------------------
The Fast Forward Trend Analysis (prepared for the CRTC) by the Toronto-based Solutions Research Group Consultants in August 2006 reported:
- 12% of Canadian households use either a DVR or VOD
- On-demand use (DVR or VOD) is expected to rise to 30% of all Canadian households in the next five years (either via cable or DTH)
- 44% of Canadian digital cable customers (just over a million households) have used VOD (paid or free)
- 58% of VOD and DVR users say on-demand has significantly increased their levels of enjoyment with television
Mpix is an Astral Media network available in eastern Canada. Mpix is a 24-hour pay-television network with the ultimate collection of great movies from every era. Mpix's affiliate channel, Mescape, features quality light-hearted drama. MHD is a dedicated high-definition classics movie channel offering select HD simulcasts of programming from Mpix and Mescape. For more information, please visit www.mpix.ca.
The Movie Network is an Astral Media network available in eastern Canada. With premiere access to Hollywood hit movies, critically-acclaimed HBO and Showtime series, and first-rate Canadian programming, this pay-television service presents Canadians with some of the best television entertainment available. The Movie Network service includes five 24-hour multiplex channels - M, MMore, MExcess, MFun! and MFest - which deliver diverse and entertaining programs in an uncut and commercial-free television environment. The Movie Network also offers The Movie Network HD, a dedicated high definition channel providing hundreds of titles in HD; and The Movie Network OnDemand, a Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD) service, available in select areas across eastern Canada. For more information, please visit www.themovienetwork.ca.
Astral Media is one of Canada's leading media companies, active in specialty, pay and pay-per-view television, radio and outdoor advertising. Astral Media's solid and dynamic presence in the country's major markets rests on its commitment to offer a unique combination of high-quality, targeted media for all its audiences. www.astralmedia.com
For further information: Media contact: Roopa Shah, Astral Television Networks, (416) 956-8584, rshah@tv.astral.com