High Fidelity: New VOD HD Music Channel Tours Comcast
Comcast has launched new In Demand service INHD Jukebox on VOD. It’s billed as the 1st free, HD VOD offering featuring a selection of concert performances in 5.1 Dolby Digital. The launch follows a successful trial run in Comcast’s Richmond, VA, market and is part of the MSO’s commitment to make 100 hours of HD VOD programming available each month (an aside: it was not announced, but Comcast’s deal with CBS for free VOD programming also includes the HD versions of some primetime shows). INHD Jukebox will make more than 20 concert clips available each month, refreshed weekly, with initial content mined from concerts that air on INHD and INHD2 (In Demand is looking to acquire outside high-def footage as well). Performances include: Art Garfunkel’s "Feeling Groovy," The Who’s "My Generation" and Pink’s "Get the Party Started." Said Page Thompson, svp, gm of video services for Comcast: "Music programs have consistently been among the most popular On Demand shows… HD makes fans feel like they’re in the front row for performances by their favorite artists." In Demand is talking to other MSOs about launching the VOD channel.