Charter, Comcast, DISH Whip Up Targeted Packages

DISHING out HD

The DISH approach on this front is unique in that it packages all HD channels into a pay service targeting sports and movie lovers. Given its substantial loss of subscribers in the first two calendar quarters of this year, it’s more than likely DISH is looking at HD and other assets to help land and keep customers, and generate additional revenue from its TV services. Demand for HD is growing quickly, largely because more than one-third of homes have HDTV sets, according to a recent report from SNL Kagan. The company claims 74 HD networks (not channels) have been launched since 2003. There are four TurboHD packages, which include the ability to add local channels for $5 per month. The Bronze package has about 23 HD channels for $24.99; Silver has about 28 channels for $32.99 per month; Gold has 35 channels for $39.95 per month; and Platinum includes seven more channels for an additional $10 per month.

The launch of Charter’s Disney Family Movies subscription VoD service, announced Aug. 12, meanwhile, features a dozen classic and contemporary movies and animated shorts from The Walt Disney Studios in an attempt to reach a targeted audience. The tandem says titles will remain in rotation for about a month, with new titles added weekly. Rotating titles will have broad appeal, targeting children, teens, adults and families. Initially, Disney Family Movies includes “Air Buddies,” “Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams,” “Geppetto,” “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids,” “Tarzan & Jane” and others.

“We are delighted to be offering a family-friendly entertainment service featuring universally treasured Disney titles to Charter's customers,” added Dan Cohen, executive vice president, pay television and interactive media, Disney-ABC Domestic Television. “This unique Disney offering is the first of its kind, generating an innovative use of the subscription [video-on-demand] technology.”

Comcast and MGM: Sudden Impact?

Comcast and MGM announced a similar effort a day later, claiming its Impact VoD channel is the first such channel dedicated exclusively to action programming. Unlike the Charter-Disney deal, this one does not carry a monthly subscription fee, but does feature titles that users will have to pay for, according to a Comcast spokesperson.

The new channel, available first to Comcast customers last week, features action films and television shows, many available in HD. The duo claims action is one of the fastest-growing movie categories at the box office.

Jim Packer, co-president of MGM Worldwide Television, said his company has more than 1,000 titles in the MGM library “that fit our new brand. I’m confident action fans will find Impact a one-stop destination for all of their action entertainment needs.”

Within the first year, the companies said, Impact will show movies from the James Bond series, Rocky, Magnificent Seven and RoboCop. Impact also will launch with selections featuring popular action stars from the MGM library such as Chuck Norris, Sylvester Stallone and Charles Bronson.

As an ongoing part of Impact, the tandem said there will be special programming themes created around the popular action genres including thrillers, crime, espionage, westerns, war films and martial arts.

More targeted channels are in the making, representing additional opportunities for TV service providers, with Viacom Inc.(VIA-B) offspring planning to launch a new premium movie service next year.

Related Article:

Disney Exec Talks Trends, Opportunities and Challenge

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