AOL Hopes To Boost Broadband With Pop Idol
AOL has secured an agreement with RealNetworks to provide its broadband members with video content from the latest series of Pop Idol, in a bid to boost uptake of its high-speed internet service.
AOL will be the only broadband service provider to offer its subscribers Pop Idol video content free of charge, when the popular television series begins on ITV1 and ITV2 on Saturday 9 August.
The deal will see AOL Broadband members be given access to video footage of the best moments from the reality TV show, including auditions, interviews and performances from this year’s semi-finalists and finalists. AOL will also be hosting a special Pop Idol area for dial-up and broadband members.
The agreement follows AOL’s recent screening of Big Brother content, which has seen its broadband members spending an increasing amount of time online and large numbers of dial-up members upgrading to AOL Broadband to enjoy reality TV.
Commenting on the initiative, Chris Condron, head of broadband content at AOL UK, said: “We want to give our members the most compelling broadband content available. The recent launch of AOL Music has proved just how popular online music is and we know that Pop Idol was incredibly successful last year.”
He added: “Our recent experience providing video streams from the Big Brother house on AOL Broadband has proved that online consumers love having special access to an event or show that everyone is talking about so that they feel they are ahead of the game. It’s as simple as this: Reality TV shows such as Pop Idol are watercooler broadband.”
A recent study from IDC shows that last year was a pivotal year for the European broadband market, as the number of high-speed internet connections and associated revenues went through the roof (see Broadband Usage Grows Across Europe).
AOL Time Warner: 020 7348 8000 www.aoltimewarner.com
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