Video On-Demand (VOD) is moving a step closer to becoming available as Melita launches a beta version on Wednesday. The VOD beta services will be available nationwide and free to all subscribers who already have the interactive Netbox HD as part of Melita’s XL Entertainment Pack.
The beta testing period is expected to last a few weeks and is aimed to gather customer feedback and subsequent improvements on the service, varying from content to the user interface. The commercial roll-out of the VOD service will take place later this summer, after the beta testing period is over.
Video On-Demand is similar to having thousands of DVDs on your television service. VOD will include a selection of popular TV series, top comedy, drama, documentaries, kids programmes, movies and music videos. Viewers will also have full control to pause, rewind, fast-forward or watch their favourite show as many times as they please, just like a DVD.
“TV viewing trends have changed drastically and will continue to change. Our subscribers are telling us that they want more control of what they watch and when they watch it on TV. Our position as leaders in entertainment services allows us to listen to our customers’ needs and invest in new services to fill these gaps in the market. Over the last year, we have invested over €3 million in our television services and products resulting in the launch of interactive TV with an interactive Netbox in HD just over a year ago and now Video on-demand,” said Ludolf Rasterhoff, Melita’s Chief Operations Officer.
Recently, Melita announced that it has chosen the world-leading television Video on-demand aggregator, On Demand! Group (ODG) to launch the VOD services. Melita’s VOD launch will mark the extension of ODG’s reach to 18 platforms in 12 countries handling over one billion video on demand transactions per year in nine different languages. Telecommunications giants like Virgin Media in the UK, Kabel Deustchland in Germany are among ODG’s customers. In the UK alone, ODG has over 2.5 million customers for VOD services.