Starz to Join Comcast’s On Demand Online Trial
Starz Entertainment and Comcast have announced that selections from the programmer’s lineup of premium content will be available online to Comcast Starz subscribers as part of Comcast’s On Demand Online technical trial. The trial will initially make 300 movies and other original programming available in standard definition (SD), with high definition (HD) versions and more content added in coming months.
Customers will be able in many cases to see the movies and originals online as soon as they premiere on the standard Comcast video on demand service and before they air on the linear channels. The content will be initially accessible on Comcast.net and Fancast.com.
Comcast will begin its technical trial of On Demand Online with approximately 5,000 customers from across the United States in the coming weeks. A major focus of the trial is to test the company’s new “authentication” technology, which will allow customers to receive the same content online for free that they subscribe to on TV. The service will utilize a simple log-on system for streaming content and, in the future, will allow for download content to go. The On Demand Online service will roll-out in phases, adding new features, functionality and content over time to provide consumers with a new way to watch television.
(For more on On Demand Online, click here).