Comcast in "Exclusive" VOD Partnership with Shakira

Comcast announced Monday that it will today (Tuesday) launch an HD VOD collection showcasing music videos, biographical footage and live performances from Shakira, thanks to an exclusive partnership with the Colombian singer (note: the MSO also recently launched a similar exclusive HD VOD collection featuring singer, Taylor Swift--see the article published on itvt.com, December 3rd).

Content that will be available in the collection (which will be accessed by selecting "Top Picks" from the VOD menu, and then "Shakira"), according to Comcast, includes the music videos for "Underneath Your Clothes," "Whenever, Wherever," and "Hips Don't Lie." Viewers will have the option of watching the collection in its entirety without stopping or having to hit play, the MSO says. According to Comcast, music is one of the most popular programming categories on its VOD service, generating 50 to 60 million views each month (out of a total of 350 million views per month). Other musical artists recently featured on Comcast On Demand include Green Day, U2, Sheryl Crow, Counting Crows, Foo Fighters, ZZ Top and Mariah Carey.

In other VOD news:

• Verizon said Monday that it is adding programming from HDNet and its sister channel, HDNet Movies, to its FiOS TV platform's VOD service. The programming is available at no extra charge to FiOS TV subscribers with HD set-top boxes. It includes concert and martial arts coverage, travel programming, Dan Rather's news show, "Dan Rather Reports," and 25 movies per month from HDNet Movies. According to Verizon, most HDNet content will be available on-demand within 24 hours of its network premiere and content will be refreshed weekly. "We continue to expand our massive VOD collection with more HD programming not offered by cable," Terry Denson, Verizon's VP of content strategy and acquisition, said in a prepared statement. "With more than 20 hours of HD programming from HDNet and more than 25 free movies from HDNet Movies--every month--FiOS TV subscribers now have more entertainment than ever before right at their fingertips, any time they choose." Verizon claims that FiOS TV's VOD line-up includes "more than 18,000 monthly titles in every market, including more than 2,400 HD titles."
• Oasis TV, which describes itself as "the premier Body Mind Spirit programming service on all media platforms worldwide"--said Monday that it has secured VOD carriage deals with Cox and Charter. According to the company, Cox will offer its free, ad-supported programming to 3.3 million households in 20 TV markets, including Phoenix, San Diego, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Cleveland and Orange County, Calif.; and Charter will offer it to 2.7 million households in 34 markets, including St. Louis, Madison, Fort Worth and Long Beach. The deals will see Oasis TV providing 15 hours of programming per month.
• RCN said Monday that it has added programming from The Ski Channel to its free VOD line-up in Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Washington DC, Lehigh Valley and New York City.