HBO and Cinemax are to join a partnership between Comcast and Time Warner that aims to offer video content online. The ?TV Everywhere? scheme, set to trial in the next few weeks, is designed to give TV customers online access to the programmes they already pay for. It is hoped the initiative will stop users switching from paid subscriptions to free online services such as Hulu.
Comcast’s On Demand Online service is to be trialled in 5,000 households and includes authentication software to stop non-subscribers accessing the shows. Under the new partnership, Comcast customers will be able to view up to 750 hours of programming a month from HBO and Cinemax.
The service already includes content from Time Warner’s Turner networks and Liberty Media’s Starz. The trial is open to Comcast customers who are currently subscribed to its video and internet services. If the trial is successful, Comcast hopes to sell the scheme to other ISPs and make it available via mobile companies.
StrategyEye's related categories: Online Video, ISPs - Wired, Broadcasters - Cable
