Anytime signs video on demand deal with QLD ISP

Stan Beer
Friday, 03 March 2006 00:41

IT Industry - Deals

International company Anytime is partnering with Townsville ISP, Internet Australia, in a deal to bring video on demand movies to regional Queensland.

The companies plan to use ADSL2+ broadband to deliver movies on-demand in real time to subscribers’ televisions.

Anytime’s chief executive officer and president, Craig Zimbulis, said that this is the first agreement of its type and scale in Queensland, and only the second such agreement in Australia.

“This makes an unprecedented number of high quality, on-demand movies available, including the latest titles from Fox, Sony, Warner and Universal. On this channel, you watch any movie you want, anytime you want, on your TV, without leaving your home to get it,” Mr Zimbulis said.

The Anytime channel is planned to go live in Townsville by June, on RIA’s MyNexus service. Services will then rollout to Cairns, Rockhampton, Gladstone, Mackay, Roma, Mt Isa and Dalby, in conjunction with in-fill to smaller regional centres.

Entry level monthly pricing will start at $24.95 for a first service (ADSL2+, phone or Anytime), $14.95 for a second service, and $9.95 for a
third service.

“You can rent a new release movie for $5.95 and watch it as often as you like within 24 hours. You can hire a library (i.e. older) movie for $3.50,” Mr Zimbulis said.

Warren Thomson, RIA’s chief executive officer said that the company is already receiving significant numbers of pre-registrations. “While the industry goliaths are only dipping their toes in the water, working with Anytime allows us to offer the world’s best programming in one simple step. We anticipate that the majority of new customers will want video content,” Mr Thomson said.