--BBN in VOD Deal with Verizon FiOS TV, Green Day Tour Coverage on FiOS TV VOD, V CAST
Shalom TV, a non-profit VOD service devoted to Jewish culture and public affairs (note: pay-TV platforms distributing the service include Comcast, Cox, Verizon FiOS TV, Time Warner Cable, Cablevision, Bright House, MetroCast, RCN, Service Electric, Buckeye CableSystem, Armstrong Cable and Blue Ridge Communications), contacted [itvt] Monday to let us know that it has secured a carriage deal with Rogers Communications, that sees it offered on the Canadian cable MSO's free Rogers Multicultural On Demand service (channel 800). Rogers' service area includes Toronto, home to Canada's largest Jewish community. According to Shalom TV, the Rogers carriage deal means that it now reaches 37 million North American households.
Shalom TV's programs are refreshed every Sunday. According to the service, they include a "Jewish Film Festival," exclusive presentations of programs from the 92nd Street Y, news from and about Israel, Israel mini-tours and other features about that country, programs on Jewish cooking, arts, culture, comedy and music, Jewish-themed children's programming, programs designed to teach Hebrew and encourage study of the Talmud and Kabbalah, and interviews with and profiles of prominent members of the Jewish community.
In other VOD news:
- African American-owned-and-operated programming service, the Black Broadcasting Network (BBN), announced Monday that it has secured a VOD carriage deal with Verizon FiOS TV. The service, which targets an 18-34 demographic, offers a range of programming--including movies, music videos, black college sports, reality shows, comedy and current affairs--featuring African American and Latino talent in front of and behind the camera. In addition to pay-TV, it offers its programming on broadband and mobile. "Black Broadcasting Network is the dominant source of programming for black audiences and the newest addition in black television," BBN president and COO, Yusef Muhammad, said in a prepared statement. "BBN attracts today's urban audience--an audience who not only creates popular culture, but maintains it as an integral part of their identity. BBN offers an outlet for indie producers to showcase their talent across multiple platforms."
- Verizon FiOS TV--together with Verizon Wireless's V CAST Video service--is offering exclusive on-demand footage from the band Green Day's "21st Century Breakdown" tour, Verizon announced Monday. Verizon Wireless, which sponsored the tour, shot the video using 13 HD cameras during the band's August 22nd concert in Phoenix. More information is available here.
- Comcast is once again offering its "Troop Greetings On Demand" VOD service in a number of its markets. The service allows US military personnel serving overseas to send holiday messages to their friends and family via videos on Comcast's VOD platform.
