Germany’s third-largest cable operator Tele Columbus will launch a transactional video-on-demand (T-VOD) service as part of its planned Ultra HD/4K-capable multimedia home gateway.
The service which will offer films in parallel with their release as purchasable Blu-ray discs or DVDs will be supplied by On Demand Deutschland.
Through the partnership with the VOD service provider, Tele Columbus gains access to blockbusters from Hollywood studios such as 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros., Universal and Paramount Pictures as well as independent rights sellers like Tele München Gruppe, Constantin and Studiocanal.
The T-VOD service will complement subscription-VOD service maxdome which will also form part of the new platform.
The multiscreen platform which will combine linear television, on-demand services and TV apps is currently in an extended field trial. It will be introduced along with new set-top-boxes at the end of 2016. Smartphones and tablets will be integrated through iOS/Android apps.
On Demand Deutschland is a joint venture by German media company Tele München Gruppe and international content provider Vubiquity supplying cable and IPTV platforms with VOD services. Customers include, for example, A1 Telekom Austria, Ocilion IPTV Technologies and Videociety.