ITV To Launch Film Download Service
ITV is to launch a film download service next month following a deal between ITV’s DVD division and video download specialists BiBC.
The deal will see 500 hours of content owned by ITV DVD and its Rank Film subsidiary added to BiBC’s download service.
It will begin with 300 hours of library films, such as Carry on Camping, with drama, comedy, children’s and special interest programming will be added later.
Content will initially be sold via broadband on boxoffice365.com. However, later in the year content will become available through TVs via set-top boxes.
A report on MediaGuardian.co.uk quotes Steve Gallant, ITV DVD publishing director, as saying: “Up to now, these services have appealed to early adopters and there hasn’t been a huge amount of content available.
“The pricing has also been unrealistic. This year the market will grow, particularly as the technology becomes simpler and when can buy through their TV rather than their PC, the market will really open up.”
It is also understood that BiBC will make ITV content available as part of a ‘white-label’ downloads service which will allow existing retailers to offer their own branded downloads store.
The BBC recently announced that it would be launching its iPlayer broadband catch-up service on July 27 (see BBC iPlayer To Launch In July).
ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.com