Emap Launches Branded VOD Service
Emap Performance, Emap’s consumer division, is launching three branded video-on-demand services for film, motorbike and golf enthusiasts.
It has appointed Arts Alliance Media (AAM) to enable users to download a wide selection of films and programming ranging from major movies to bespoke golf tutorials. AAM’s video on demand network, Vizumi, will power the service on the Emap sites which launch tomorrow.
The IPTV (internet protocol TV) content will be available on laptops and PCs via the internet and will use Emap’s brands – Empire for movies, Motorcycle News (MCN) for bikes and Today’s Golfer for golf – to drive traffic to the sites. At launch, 350 hours of content will be available to download across the three sites, with more being added.
www.empiremoviedownloads.com will feature a range of Empire’s 4-and 5-star rated movies, such as Superman Returns, Taxi Driver and The Da Vinci Code.
The MCN site, www.mcnbikedownloads.com will feature big races, stunts and documentaries including Champion Sheene.
www.TGgolfdownloads.com will give users access to golfing tips from the likes of David Leadbetter or The British Open from 1970 – 2006.
Key features will allow users to watch via laptops or PCs and will include the ability to pause and rewind content as well as the ability to send content to different designated PCs.
This would allow a user to use their office PC to download content to their home PC ready to view when they got home. Content can also be viewed on a TV, providing the users have their TV networked to their PC.
Films via www.empiremoviedownloads.com will be available to rent from £2.99 or to own from £5.99. www.TGgolfdownloads.com and www.mcnbikedownloads.com will feature content that will be rentable from £1.99.
Emap Performance sees this IPTV initiative as consistent with Emap plc’s plan to accelerate its digital reach and capability.
The move follows the recently announced exclusive deal to provide Emap-branded music video-on-demand services and programming for BT Vision, BT’s TV-via-broadband service, which launched in December (see BT Vision Trickles Onto Market Next Month).
Dharmash Mistry, managing director of Emap Performance and ECM, said: “We believe the future, from both consumer and content creator perspective, is about 360-degree platform commissioning, that is, creating content which can be used across magazines, TV, IPTV and mobile.
“The launch of branded VoD in film, golf and motorbikes available on the web is an example of video content being created for multiple platforms.”
Steve Buckley, Emap Performance head of TV ventures, said: “This VoD initiative will showcase the power of Emap brands to identify and retail specialised content, from cult movies to rare motorcycle footage and interactive golf tuition, as well as the more obvious blockbusters.”
Emap: 01733 568 900 www.emap.co.uk