MGM, Rogers Cable Ink VOD Deal

Rogers Cable, Canada's largest cable operator, has signed an agreement with MGM Home Entertainment to add MGM movies to its VOD service. Rogers is the first Canadian cable company to sign a VOD content agreement with a major Hollywood studio.

Rogers Digital subscribers will be able to access the VOD library on Channel 350, where they can select from a current library of 400 titles, including movies, concerts, documentaries and television series. Viewers can watch and replay the programs for 24 hours and can stop, rewind, fast-forward and pause the program by using their set-top box remote controls. MGM plans to expand the current VOD library to over 450 titles. VOD is currently available to customers in central Toronto with additional Toronto neighborhoods being phased in throughout 2003. Following that, Rogers will continue to deploy advanced interactive services, such as VOD, to its other systems.

Content is currently available on the Rogers VOD library from Alliance Atlantis, Motion Picture Distribution, which represents Miramax, New Line and Artisan Films as well as Lion's Gate, CBC, Corus Entertainment and TVA.