(12 May 2007 6:00 pm)

MUMBAI: ViDeOnline Communications (VDO) has signed a multi-year video-on-demand (VoD) and subscription video-on-demand (SVoD) agreement with Warner Bros. International Television Distribution (WBITD) for the Hong Kong rights to films. all current feature-length motion pictures and hundreds of library feature films distributed by WBITD.

The agreement, negotiated on behalf of WBITD by Ted Lai, VP of its international television division, will allow ViDeOnline to offer legal downloads of premium content from Warner Bros. through its "08Media portal, which launched in March in Hong Kong.

The service will initially feature more than 100 motion pictures distributed by WBITD, including a mix of recent theatrical releases and favorites from the Studio’s vast entertainment library. Featured titles to be initially offered will include recent releases such as Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, V For Vendetta, Superman Returns, The Ant Bully, Lady in the Water and Happy Feet as well as popular titles such as The Polar Express, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Batman Begins, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Firewall. All video content can be streamed or downloaded and played on compatible home computers.

WBITD president R. Schlesinger says, " Making our movie content available to ViDeOnline’s Hong Kong consumers is an important step in our global digital distribution strategy. This deal fits perfectly with our philosophy of providing consumers around the world with access to our world-class entertainment."

The expansive rollout of high-speed broadband and wireless services in Asia has created a customer base with an increased demand for new, quality content. ViDeOnline acts as the partner in providing an optimal platform for aggregating content with the necessary technology to download and track DRM-protected feature films and TV shows to broadband carriers throughout Asia.