SeaChange International subsidiary, On Demand Group, sells 33 percent stake in FilmFlex

Source: Technology Digital

Date :08/01/2008 14:06:20

The On Demand Group has sold 33 percent of its shareholding in on-demand movie service FilmFlex to fellow shareholders Sony Pictures Television International and Walt Disney Television International.

Launched in January 2005, FilmFlex is the largest VOD movie service outside of North America as well as the exclusive movie on demand service for Virgin Media’s TV VOD service in the UK.

Wider VOD services

Under the new deal, the FilmFlex management team will continue to run and build the venture and On Demand Group will continue to provide some outsourced technical and creative production services.

“Our strategy now is to focus on wider VOD services including television and music as well as movies, with subscription video on demand services, (SVOD), in ventures where ODG has a higher percentage share,” said Tony Kelly (pictured), CEO of ODG.

“There is a window for the growth of VOD and SVOD services, where in Europe almost every cable company, telco and mobile operator has either developed or is planning to develop VOD services. We therefore have to be nimble and entrepreneurial in order to capitalise on this opportunity,” he continued.

Ventures

Earlier in 2007, ODG announced a 50/50 joint venture with Tele München Gruppe in Germany to develop VOD services in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

In October, the company announced the launch of a full range of branded services including a CineExpress movie service and additional VOD branded services for TV, music, kids and leisure programming.

SeaChange International is the leading provider of software applications, services and solutions for Video-On-Demand (VOD), Digital Advertising, and Content Acquisition, Monetization and Management.

January 08, 2008