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Entone and VUDU Team for Web-Based VOD Services to Telco OperatorsMay 11, 2009 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- Entone, Inc., a provider of IPTV home connectivity solutions, announced the integration of VUDU's Internet entertainment platform with Entone's next generation media hubs. The offering, available to telco service operators this summer, will allow Entone's telco customers to supplement their live broadcast television and digital video recorder (DVR) services with VUDU's library of more than 14,000 movie and TV titles, including the largest high-definition (HD) library in existence today. Instead of having to choose between an operator managed service or an "over the top" (OTT) Internet video service, the companies said that consumers will be able to enjoy the best of both from a single user interface resulting in a dramatic increase in their choice of content. "Entone has broken new ground with this approach and we encourage operators to follow," says Colin Dixon, Senior Analyst for The Diffusion Group. "Entone's approach of embracing rather than defending against online video services is a win-win-win for operators, content providers and consumers." Through its partnership with Entone, the companies said that VUDU will make its movie library available through telco operators deploying Entone's IP Video Gateways and Media Hubs, providing consumers with a less costly and much more flexible viewing alternative. "This arrangement brings together the best of live television, as supported by Entone's market leading IPTV home connectivity products, with the best of Internet on-demand movies, as supported by VUDU's vast movie library from every major Hollywood studio and over 40 independents," expressed Steve McKay, CEO of Entone. "Previously, consumers had to choose between pay TV services and over-the-top Internet video services where the latter was something you did when you were not watching TV. This is the first time two competing visions are coming together in one unified service. By marrying the two concepts, your online movie library is now available as part of your core TV viewing experience from the same user interface and remote control." "IPTV is becoming an option for consumers and we want consumers to get access to VUDU through the devices they already have in their home," says Edward Lichty, EVP of Strategy and Content for VUDU. "Entone's integration with VUDU is a great consumer experience and we are looking forward to VUDU's inclusion in the next generation of devices to be rolled out by Entone and their telco customers." The VUDU Movies On-Demand service will be available to Entone's telco customers via an IPTV service model or via Entone's new SelecTV service that will be released later this year, the companies noted in a release. ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) |