Cox Launches MyPrimetime VOD Service in Las Vegas and San Diego

Cox Communications announced last week that it has launched its MyPrimetime VOD service in Las Vegas and San Diego. The service makes available episodes of primetime series from ABC, NBC, Cartoon Network, FX, TBS, AMC, USA Network, Travel Channel, TNT, A&E and other programmers free-of-charge, the day after their linear broadcast. The service has previously been rolled out in Cox's Orange County, Calif.; New England; Kansas/Arkansas; Arizona; Macon, Georgia; Roanoke, Virginia; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Omaha, Nebraska; Santa Barbara, Calif.; Hampton Roads, Virginia; and Greater Louisiana markets, and the operator says that its remaining systems will launch the service imminently. "We're excited to near the full roll-out of MyPrimetime to all Cox systems so that even more of our customers have the opportunity to view their favorite shows on their schedule," Bob Nocera, Cox's director of marketing for new video services, said in a prepared statement. "The vast majority of customers who have experienced MyPrimetime have already roared their enthusiasm for the service with more than 90% saying they will use it again. So far this year, we've offered subscribers access to more than 70 popular shows in MyPrimetime including hits like 'Lost,' 'The Closer,' 'Grey's Anatomy,' 'Mad Men,' 'Monk,' 'The Office' and more--all starting the day after their linear premiere. The availability of these programs on-demand takes TV anytime to a new level, adding viewing convenience for our customers and maintaining advertising integrity for our network partners since programs in MyPrimetime can be fast-forward disabled."

Cox says that it plans to offer more shows in MyPrimetime with the beginning of the fall television season, and that over 20 networks will be providing programming for the service.

In other VOD news: Image Entertainment, an independent licensee and distributor of home entertainment programming that is seeking to expand its business beyond its core DVD offering (note: among other things, the company claims to have exclusive rights to approximately 3,200 DVD titles in domestic release), said Monday that it has signed a PPV and VOD deal with DISH Network. "DISH Network is excited to bring even more PPV and VOD offerings to our already substantial collection of more than 6,000 titles," Andy Karofsky, DISH Network's VP of programming, said in a prepared statement. "Image Entertainment offers a great selection of HD movies, television series, comedy specials, and other sought-after programming we're confident our viewers will enjoy."