On Demand Weekly

The televised Yule Log on cable is back again this year in SD, HD and 3D via free Video On Demand (VOD). Last winter, cable brought viewers the very first 3D version of the televised Yule Log. This year, the industry adds another element, enabling viewers to easily access the iconic video log online anytime, for free, from the national Movies On Demand website, rentmoviesondemand.com. Now viewers can literally carry the Yule Log into any room in the house, and warm it up with a crackling fire and carols. While the virtual hearth is burning, they can also browse through the hottest movies available instantly via cable’s Movies On Demand (MOD).

Viewers can call up the Yule Log on any computer or mobile device simply by clicking on: http://rentmoviesondemand.com/yulelog

For the second year, many systems are showing the Yule Log in 3D, in addition to High Definition (HD) and Standard Definition (SD). This holiday gift is available for free via Video On Demand (VOD) for digital cable subscribers on Comcast, Cox Communications, Cablevision, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, Cablevision/Bresnan and RCN. The service is available now and airs until Jan. 2, 2012 as part of the cable operators’ “free on demand” services. (See list below of exact locations on system lineups, and content availability in 3D, SD or HD.)

Adding to the familiar Yule Log, program distributor iN DEMAND also provides Winter Green*, a snowy, pine forest setting and Snowman*, dressed in top hat, scarf and neckerchief withstanding a windy, snowy storm. These offerings will help viewers get into the holiday spirit, accompanied by traditional carols like Joy to the World, Hark the Herald Angels Sing and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. *Not in 3D.

While the original televised Yule Log has been airing on broadcast TV since 1966, iN DEMAND’s version for cable viewers was first produced in high definition starting in 2002 and lit up on Video On Demand starting in 2007. The 3D version, which started in 2010, is originally produced exclusively for cable by iN DEMAND using the latest 3D technology. To see the 3D version, viewers need a 3D TV with compatible 3D glasses and an HD set-top box connected according to their system’s specs. The HD offerings were filmed with HD cameras and are presented in 1080i picture and 5.1 sound. The 3D version was produced by Offhollywood Digital using Red 1 cameras and an Element Technica 3D rig.

WHERE TO FIND THIS FREE ON DEMAND HOLIDAY OFFERING ON SPECIFIC MSOs**:

Brick-and-mortar retail stores continue to cede movie-rental market share, as kiosks and digital-streaming rentals become more accepted by consumers.

Market research company, The NPD Group reports the U.S. consumer rental of movies in DVD and Blu-ray Disc formats fell by 11 percent in 2011, versus 2010,

Nearly one in three paid movie rentals (31 percent)

now come from paid video-on-demand (VOD) options.

Netflix is the dominant provider of paid digital movie rentals, posting a 55% share in the fourth quarter of 2011 (though down from the company’s peak of 59% in Q2 and Q3 ‘11).

“The movie-rental market is clearly undergoing a sea change, as consumers become better equipped to access on-demand and streamed movies and are more comfortable with available delivery options,” said Russ Crupnick, senior vice president, industry analysis for The NPD Group.

“Even so renting physical discs from now-ubiquitous kiosks in grocery stores and other venues has taken the lead as the most popular movie-rental method in the U.S.”

The leaders in the physical-disc rentalsvportion of the home entertainment category continues to change.
 

Rentrak, the leader in multi-screen media measurement serving the advertising, television and entertainment industries releases their annual State of VOD: Trend Report 2011. The report, which is based on an aggregation of data from Rentrak's OnDemand Essentials service, shows that video-on-demand

(VOD) is at the tipping point

of becoming a major ad medium.

Free-On-Demand (FOD) content, which are programs that run on ad-supported broadcast, cable and on-demand only networks, experienced 17% growth in 2011 to 6.8 billion transactions. With an average of 5 hours and 17 FOD television shows or videos watched per month, the potential value of the ad inventory in these programs is at least one billion dollars, based on Rentrak estimates.

The on-demand platform is an excellent growth opportunity for increased ad revenue with more than 55 million U.S. homes with access to VOD and the average home spending 8 hours per month watching VOD content. The majority of VOD viewing is spent on free programs.

"We like to think about VOD as the power of 8-plus! In the 8 years since VOD has taken off, homes now watch 8 hours of VOD a month and 80% of that is free TV programs, with more than 80% of the free TV program viewing occurring after the first three days of availability on-demand. Combine that with the potential ad sales of a billion dollars and you have one powerful medium," said Cathy Hetzel, Corporate President at Rentrak.

Cathy Hetzel, Corporate President at Rentrak

Additional Insights from Rentrak's State of VOD: Trend Report 2011:

     - VOD grew overall by more than 1 billion transactions from 7.8 billion last year to 8.8 billion in 2011.

     - 77% of those transactions (6.8 billion) were for free content, providing significant opportunity for revenue growth over the coming years as ad insertion technology becomes commonplace.

     - Each month, 33.8 million STBs accessed free content.

     - Within FOD, major program viewership is now dominant. The TV Entertainment category, which includes programming from the top linear broadcast and cable networks, is now the top FOD category by transactions, up from #3 last year.

For more information, or to purchase the Rentrak State of VOD: Trend Report 2011, please visit http://www.rentrak.com/stateofvod/
 

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