On Demand Weekly

On Demand Weekly rounds up stories affecting the On Demand TV / VOD Industry.

Netflix Bends To Warner Bros., Won't Rent DVDs For 28 Days After They Go On Sale
This will please the movie industry: Netflix has agreed to a 28-day window before it rents Warner Bros. DVDs and Blu-ray discs after they go on sale. The idea is that this will allow Warner Bros. to sell more discs, which is more lucrative than rentals.... (Silicon Alley Insider)

Think the Internet Will Replace Cable ? Read this first

Its going to be cheaper to have the big traditional cable distributors offer your content to viewers than it will be to reach a large audience on the net. Thats for a one time offering. If you plan on doing it more than once or on a regularly scheduled basic, there is no question its cheaper to do it this way. And the picture quality will be dramatically better… (Mark Cuban)

Thinking Outside the Box: Web TVs Skirt Cable Giants
In the meantime, they insist that cable-cutting is more urban myth than reality. "We see some interesting stuff out there, but right now people are watching more TV than ever; cable-cutting is largely on the fringe," said Alex Dudley, spokesman for Time Warner Cable, the nation's No. 2 operator.....(Ad Age)

On Demand Weekly rounds up stories affecting the On Demand TV / VOD Industry. Tell us what VOD news interests you @ mailbag@ondemandweekly.com.

'The Hangover' Most-Watched VOD Film Of All Time

Adult comedy film The Hangover is the most watched video on demand movie of all time, according to a report announced Wednesday by VOD content distributor Avail-TVN... (Multichannel News)

VOD Ads Growing, But Barriers Remain

And Andrea Pritchard, programming manager at Sunflower Broadband, noted that the on-demand viewer is an engaged viewer and perhaps more importantly, a smart viewer. And that should be a boon for advertisers…(Multichannel News)

VOD Key To ‘Nurturing' Cable Subscribers

Industry execs at B&C/Multichannel News event say free video-on-demand services are critical to value proposition of subscription TV...(Broadcasting & Cable)

On Demand Weekly provides new movie reviews of hot movies on demand from the POV of watching from the comfort of your home. Today’s review: “The Fence.”
Email Jean

In 2006, in the frenzied fear of Homeland Security, Drugs, and Illegal Immigration, Congress decided that what this country needed was a fence. A great big, expensive fence to protect us from the terrorists, drug dealers and illegal immigrants coming from Mexico. And so it was. Sort of. Rory Kennedy’s incisive documentary explains the foibles and follies of our protective boundary with Mexico. (Note that no one has suggested one with Canada).

Back in 1999, I saw Ms. Kennedy’s first documentary, “American Hollow,” and although heartfelt and sincere, it certainly lacked polish. Well, no longer. “The Fence” is not only entertaining and educational; it is also a highly polished and concise piece of documentary filmmaking. At a brisk 36 minutes, “The Fence” cleverly informs the viewer without undue polemicizing.

Email Lindsay

CATFISH - Premieres January 4

This documentary was directed by Ariel Shulman and Henry Joost.  Rated PG-13

On Demand the same day as DVD, before Netflix or Redbox.

HOWL - Premieres January 4 
This unrated drama stars James Franco as the poet Allen Ginsberg, with Mary-Louise Parker and Jeff Daniels.  Rated PG-13

On Demand the same day as DVD, before Netflix or Redbox.

THE LAST EXORCISM - Premieres January 4 
This fictional horror film, shot in the style of a documentary, stars Patrick Fabian and Ashley Bell.  Rated PG-13

On Demand the same day as DVD.

MACHETE - Premieres January 4 

This Robert Rodriguez-directed, action-packed satire stars Danny Trejo, Jessica Alba and Robert DeNiro, and features smaller roles by an all-star cast.  Rated R

On Demand the same day as DVD, before Netflix or Redbox.

SALT - Premieres January 4 
This action film stars Angelina Jolie as a badass double agent: CIA operative/Russian assassin.  Rated PG-13

On Demand before Netflix.

SHREK FOREVER AFTER - Premieres January 5
This final, fourth chapter in the animated film series features the voices of Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, and Eddie Murphy.  Rated PG

Available in 3D.

DESPICABLE ME - Premieres January 6

Email Lindsay

CATFISH - Premieres January 4

This documentary was directed by Ariel Shulman and Henry Joost.  Rated PG-13

On Demand the same day as DVD, before Netflix or Redbox.

HOWL - Premieres January 4 

This unrated drama stars James Franco as the poet Allen Ginsberg, with Mary-Louise Parker and Jeff Daniels.  Rated PG-13

On Demand the same day as DVD, before Netflix or Redbox.

THE LAST EXORCISM - Premieres January 4 

This fictional horror film, shot in the style of a documentary, stars Patrick Fabian and Ashley Bell.  Rated PG-13

On Demand the same day as DVD.

MACHETE - Premieres January 4 

This Robert Rodriguez-directed, action-packed satire stars Danny Trejo, Jessica Alba and Robert DeNiro, and features smaller roles by an all-star cast.  Rated R

On Demand the same day as DVD, before Netflix or Redbox.

SALT - Premieres January 4 

This action film stars Angelina Jolie as a badass double agent: CIA operative/Russian assassin.  Rated PG-13

On Demand before Netflix.

SHREK FOREVER AFTER - Premieres January 5

This final, fourth chapter in the animated film series features the voices of Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, and Eddie Murphy.  Rated PG

Available in 3D.

DESPICABLE ME - Premieres January 6

With THOR hitting theaters and the summer superhero season upon us, On Demand Weekly is celebrating the top 10 Superhero summer movies available via Movies On Demand. These top 10 films are available by visiting the Comic Book Heroes category located on the Movies On Demand channel on Time Warner Cable.

Email us your favorite Superhero movie.

10. TRON: LEGACY
9. X-MEN 3: THE LAST STAND
8. THE INCREDIBLE HULK
7. TRON – THE ORIGINAL CLASSIC (1985)
6. SUPERMAN RETURNS