Quickflix launches movies over broadband service

Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 26 October 2011 21:29

Your IT - Entertainment

Online DVD rental company, Quickflix, is to launch a video on demand service offering a range of Hollywood Movies over the Internet to any browser equipped device.

The service will go live on 10 November following the previously announced to Sony's Internet-enabled Bravia TVs that goes live tomorrow, 27 October. Quickflix has also announced plans to deliver its content to Sony PlayStation 3s. That service will go live later this year, along with services to other, unspecified platforms.

CEO Chris Taylor said Quickflix planned to make its movie streaming service available across all popular devices such as tablets and mobile phones. "The distribution network will grow as we finalise deals with other manufacturers of internet-connected devices," he said.

Ahead of its launch tonight, Quickflix announced that it had secured deals with Sony Pictures Television, Warner Bros. International Branded Services, Lakeshore Entertainment, Content Media Corporation and Pinnacle Films for access to movies, adding: "Deals with other major studios and content providers will be announced in the coming weeks.

The company also intends to expand its content to include pay-per-view movies for new release movies and premium on-demand subscription packages serving niche interest areas.

For $14.99 a month, subscribers will get "unlimited access to movies, on demand, from a constantly updated catalogue." Existing Quickflix online DVD rental customers can upgrade to the VoD service by paying between $7 and $14 per month depending on their movie rental plan.

This compares to the $9.95 for the MeTV with fetch service announced earlier this week by Optus. That service has additional channels, available for a fee but is available only to Optus broadband and Optus mobile customers (the latter can be on any broadband network) and requires a two year contract.

In addition to movies the Quickflix service will offer free entertainment content, on demand, to both subscriber and non-subscribers. "The very talented Ruby Rose - based in Sydney and Los Angeles - will deliver A-List interviews, red carpet events and reviews produced by Quickflix," the company said.

Quickflix's traditional DVD rental service boasts 50,000 titles and some 80,000 subscribers. Earlier this week the company reported: "Paying subscribers grew by 15 percent to more than 80,000, up 73 percent year-on-year'¦To support its growth, the company has expanded its corporate and fulfilment facilities and increased its investment in its DVD and Blu-ray library, including the migration of the first BigPond Movie DVDs acquired from Telstra. Development of the technology platform to support the future service offerings has also been a core focus." Quickflix added 10,383 net new paying subscribers in the three months to September, an increase of 15 percent.