On Demand Weekly

ODW rounds up stories affecting the VOD Industry.
 

Thanksgiving weekend had highest transactions in history

By far the biggest VOD rental boost came Thanksgiving weekend, when Four Christmases, Angels & Demons, G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra and Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs all debuted on VOD. “Thanksgiving week was our single highest week ever for transactional movies and VOD,” Comcast senior VP and general manager of video and entertainment services Derek Harrar said.…(Video Business)
 

Pushing VOD to the Edge

Comcast's Project Infinity, for example, is aiming to vastly scale up the amount of video on demand to someday deliver 100,000 or more choices, at least five times what the operator currently offers....(MultiChannel News)
 

Web-TV Divide Is Back in Focus With NBC Sale

“Hollywood needs a toll collector,” said Todd Dagres of the venture capital firm Spark Capital, and “Comcast can play the part because online video will erode traditional cable.”:..(New York Times)

Last night the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) celebrated the Golden Globes nominees and winners.  Some are pay per view movies, some are premium content found on HBO or Showtime and some are free from NBC and AMC, but all are available right now via video on demand.

• The Hangover - Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical
• Meryl Streep/Julie & Julia – Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
• Christoph Waltz/Inglourious Basterds - Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
• Up - Best Animated Feature Film
• Madmen - Best Television Series – Drama

We here at On Demand Weekly love all things TV & Film. And we love to catch up on all the TV series available On Demand because it allows viewers to timeshift their viewing habits around their daily schedule.

Until now, not all of the major broadcasters (ABC, CBS, FOX & NBC) offered their TV series on demand. Today, Comcast announced they are the first to offer current TV shows On Demand from all four major broadcast networks – ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC – On Demand. This expansion of TV series, among others, nearly doubles the amount of hit TV series now available from the major broadcast networks, and brings customers the most TV episodes in high-definition On Demand.

Finally fans of TV subscribing to Xfinity On Demand can choose when they want to watch The Simpsons (FOX) and Modern Family (ABC), along with the most watch TV On Demand series, such as NCIS (CBS) and Parenthood (NBC).

“We are excited to team with Comcast to expand ABC’s fast-forward disabled VOD offering to their customers,” said David Preschlack, executive vice president, Disney and ESPN Networks Affiliate Sales and Marketing. “This is yet another example of our dedication to exploring innovative business models that super-serve the fans of ABC’s popular shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Castle, and add value to our distribution and advertising partners.”

“Our goal is to deliver customers the best and most-current entertainment choices anytime, anywhere so they can catch up and keep up with their favorite TV shows,” said Marcien Jenckes, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Video Services for Comcast. “By nearly doubling the number of current TV series from broadcast networks, Xfinity TV On Demand offers our customers a one-of-a-kind experience that can’t be found elsewhere.”

Starting on Thursday, April 28, more than 20 popular TV series from ABC and FOX will begin to roll out On Demand the day after the TV series’ live broadcast and will be fast forward disabled. Each of the major broadcast networks will offer the four most recent episodes from the below TV series On Demand.

Let's hope other Pay TV providers will follow Comcast's lead.

ABC

· Body of Proof
· Castle
· Cougar Town
· Desperate Housewives
· Grey’s Anatomy
· Private Practice


FOX

· American Dad
· America’s Most Wanted
· Bob’s Burgers
· Bones
· Breaking In
· The Chicago Code
· The Cleveland Show
· Cops
· Family Guy
· Fringe
· Glee
· Hell’s Kitchen (available 7/19)
· Kitchen Nightmares
· Masterchef (available 6/7)
· Raising Hope
· The Simpsons
· Traffic Light


CBS

· Blue Bloods
· CSI
· CSI: Miami
· CSI: NY
· Hawaii Five-0
· Mad Love
· NCIS
· NCIS: Los Angeles
· Rules of Engagement
· Survivor: Redemption Island
· The Good Wife
· Two and a Half Men
· Undercover Boss


NBC

· 30 Rock
· America’s Got Talent (available 6/1)
· America’s Next Great Restaurant
· Celebrity Apprentice
· Chase
· Chuck
· Community
· Friday Night Lights
· Harry’s Law
· Law & Order: Los Angeles
· Love In The Wild (available 6/2)
· Minute to Win It
· Outsourced
· Parks and Recreation
· Parenthood
· Perfect Couples
· Saturday Night Live
· The Biggest Loser
· The Event
· The Marriage Ref (available 6/27)
· The Office
· The Voice
· Who Do You Think You Are?
 

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VOD Trend Spotter is a new weekly column where Kendra Anderson explores the most watched TV Series On Demand (by looking at Comcast (America's largest cable VOD provider)  xfinity On Demand's weekly rankings). Sometimes the trends are obvious; other times, she adds her own spin to the psyche of the time-shifting audience.

Saying Goodbye to Our Favorite Boss, While CBS Loses its Edge, and A Good (Police) Story Matters Here (VOD Trend Spotter)
By Kendra Anderson

- Kendra Anderson

Kendra T. Anderson is a digital strategist specializing in social media and marketing, with an emphasis on independent film and branded content. She has worked with Cinetic Media, Magnolia Pictures and Focus Features, and now helps brands build digital and social communication strategies. Read more from Kendra on her blog and tweet Kendra @ktwanderson

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VOD Trend Spotter is a new weekly column where Kendra Anderson explores the most watched TV Series On Demand on Comcast / Xfinity On Demand (The US largest cable on demand provider). Sometimes the trends are obvious; other times, she adds her own spin to the psyche of the time-shifting audience.

The Power of the Throne Reigns (VOD Trend Spotter)
By Kendra Anderson

VOD Trend Spotter is a new weekly column where Kendra Anderson explores the most watched TV Series On Demand (by looking at Comcast (America's largest cable VOD provider)  xfinity On Demand's weekly rankings). Sometimes the trends are obvious; other times, she adds her own spin to the psyche of the time-shifting audience.

Note: I will be traveling for the next two weeks and I won't be posting while I'm away, but will be back after Memorial Day.

Big Wins For VOD (VOD Trend Spotter)
By Kendra Anderson

This Week In TV On Demand

TV:
1. CSI: Miami - CBS
2. Hawaii Five-O - CBS
3. Game of Thrones - HBO
4. NCIS - CBS
5. South Park - Comedy Central
6. The Good Wife - CBS
7. The Voice - NBC
8. Survivor: Redemption Island - CBS
9. NCIS: Los Angeles - CBS
10. Bad Girls Club - Oxygen

HD TV:
1. CSI: Miami - CBS
2. Hawaii Five-O - CBS
3. NCIS - CBS
4. Game of Thrones - HBO
5. The Good Wife - CBS
Source: Comcast Xfinity and Rentrak On Demand Essentials (Week Ending May 8th, 2011)


• At last week's OnDemand Summit 3.0 (MSN), Rentrak announced that TV Entertainment is the fastest growing segment in On Demand watching, growing 31% year-over-year. The Movies-On-Demand category is also up, by 9.1%
⁃ What does it say about our collective attention span that we're watching more TV episodes than full length films? I'm sorry, you lost me there. What was I saying? - KA

• Cox Communications announced it's joining the fray of TV Everywhere by introducing TV Online, which expands viewing options for subscribers who can watch content on TV, On Demand, and now, online.
⁃ Still no word from other cable companies about providing content from all four major broadcast networks. It doesn't seem to matter, though, because content from Fox and ABC isn't registering in any of the most watched On Demand spots. - KA

• NBC's "The Voice" (Series Site) crescendoed into the 7th spot in most watched TV On Demand this week.
⁃ I can get behind this. At this point I think we're all sick of American Idol, so here's a refreshing alternative. And kudos to NBC for being the only broadcast network to keep fighting the good fight against CBS's total domination of On Demand. - KA

• Falling from grace is "Bad Girls Club," Oxygen's series that's consistently been in the top 5 most watched series On Demand. This week it's ranked #10.
⁃ America, are we finally coming to our senses? Look, I get that we're fascinated by the lives of crazy people, and smug that our own quotidian existence is so normal by comparison. But come on. If you're really that into watching people pummel each other, I suggest you turn on some WWE fighting. At least we know they're professionals. - KA

- Kendra Anderson

Kendra T. Anderson is a digital strategist specializing in social media and marketing, with an emphasis on independent film and branded content. She has worked with Cinetic Media, Magnolia Pictures and Focus Features, and now helps brands build digital and social communication strategies. Read more from Kendra on her blog and tweet Kendra @ktwanderson

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Media savant T Tara Turk goes deep inside cable TV to reveal Video On Demand's Hidden Gems so even the busiest of our readers can get the most out of On Demand TV. Tell Tara what VOD shows you think deserves her attention.

PARENTHOOD (VOD Hidden Gem)

By T. Tara Turk

I have a thing for ensemble movies about life. THe BIG CHILL. THE BEST MAN (eagerly awaiting THE BEST MAN 2just announced!).THE BREAKFAST CLUB (I know all of the lines - ask my mom). Some of you youngins have no idea what movies I’m talking about but you must know "Parenthood" if only for the simple fact that it has been made into an entertaining television now on NBC.

PARENTHOOD (NBC)

I admit I’m kind of late in the game because, well, I was vehemently against remaking something that was so great before (I mean who couldn’t love a movie with a toddler named Kool, a half head shaved couple played by Keanu Reeves and the great Martha Plimpton, an overachieving mom who stashes candy in her closet and announces her divorce to her crazy husband via cue cards, and...okay the list could go on and I’d be telling you the movie and you’d be mad at me).

So I waited but then I realized Brian Grazer and Ron Howard are the executive producers and they had a little something to do with the movie. At the same time I realized that, there was that opening of time when all the new shows had been viewed and I was wishing some would be cancelled (goodbye, "Playboy Club," we hardly knew ye) and some would hurry up and make more pronto (Zooey Deschanel, what ARE you doing?). So "Parenthood" called out to me.

PARENTHOOD (NBC)

At first glance, it could be considered a Gilmore Girls continuation with Lauren Graham (Sarah Braverman) as mom having trouble letting her teenage daughter (Mae Whitman who rocked in WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN) go. But then there are the siblings - Peter Krause as Adam Braverman (the Steve Martin character), Erika Christensen as Julia Braverman Graham (not nearly neurotic as shoving stored candy down her throat but her baby issues make up for it) and Dax Shepard as Crosby Braverman. With them come a slew of other family members including Craig T. Nelson as the patriarch of the clan and Bonnie Bedelia is the matriarch.

Media savant T Tara Turk goes deep inside cable TV to reveal Video On Demand's Hidden Gems so even the busiest of our readers can get the most out of On Demand TV. Tell Tara what VOD shows you think deserves her attention.

PRIME SUSPECT (VOD Hidden Gem)

By T. Tara Turk

With all the hoopla going on for the Fall about women, tv and comedies, I’m a bit unclear about why there’s no cheer behind some of the dramas with fantastic women behind them. I’ve already told you that nobody does crime like the Brits (maybe because they’ve been around longer and have very little sunshine thus causing the macabre to be a regular mood - that’s my scientific theory) and sometimes I even like it when we take their shows and make them our own. For instance, I can’t imagine Prime Suspect being anything other than what it is: complex, gritty, sarcastic and stylized.

I’m a fan of Maria Bello (except for that weird bit she did replacing Rachel Weisz - Mrs. Bond - for THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR) maybe because I’m partial to ER alums (jury is still out on Noah Wyle and Falling Skies but at least I’m still deliberating) but I think she’s spot on as Detective Jane Timoney. Aside from the added pressure of following in the great Helen Mirren’s footsteps as the original Jane Timoney, Mario seems to fit Mirren’s American Prada boots just fine.

Jane doesn’t not exactly have the best life - a squad that borderline hates her, a boyfriend with an inability to stand up to his nice-nasty ex-wife, a nasty smoking habit and a tendency to always go the rough way on her cases (in the first episode, she gets her tush handed to her by a suspect in a way I’ve much seen on TV).

Episode Four: Great Guy; Yet Dead has Jane suspecting the wife in a murder of a guy that everyone seemed to like. Not above stripping down to her gun and bra in a dressing room to interrogate the wife, Jane trudges through her life and her cases in a way that I think would make Columbo proud. She’s more purposeful yet still a bit haphazard which makes the show interesting.