Comcast Spotlight, Next One Interactive to Launch "Homes TV On Demand"

Comcast's advertising arm, Comcast Spotlight, and Next One Interactive, a Fort Lauderdale-based company that specializes in sponsor-driven travel and real-estate programming for digital and interactive platforms, on Wednesday announced plans to launch a new VOD channel, called "Homes TV On Demand." According to the companies, the channel, which will be available through Comcast Spotlight's Searchlight VOD advertising platform, will allow prospective home buyers in over 70 US markets (i.e. around 15 million digital cable households) to view hundreds of in-market real estate listings.

Next One--which claims that it will be the "exclusive" provider of real estate listings on Comcast Searchlight--says that it will work with Liquidus Marketing for scaled video creation services across Comcast Spotllight's footprint. Liquidus, which has been working with Comcast Spotlight since 2005, offers solutions for transforming still images into video-enabled classified ads (via such techniques as pans and zooms, and the insertion of graphics, music and voiceovers), and for then distributing them (note: for more on Liquidus's solutions, see the article published on itvt.com, May 3rd, 2008). "Our solution allows for a cost-effective way to aggregate listings into attractive videos, and we're looking to facilitate more ways for buyers to interact with listings and sellers in the future," Liquidus CEO, Todd Holmes, said in a prepared statement.

According to Comcast Spotlight and Next One, Homes TV On Demand will be rolled out in Comcast markets this spring: Comcast digital cable subscribers will be able to access it by selecting channel 888 on their remotes or by selecting Searchlight from the VOD menu and then selecting "Real Estate." Next One Interactive says it will also produce video showcases of homes for sale on its full-time interactive TV network, R&R TV (note: Next One acquired the network from Televisual Media Works, a company owned by Gary Turner, the founder and former chairman and CEO of defunct interactive TV advertising and channels company, The Media Group--see the article published on itvt.com, August 18th). According to the company, the network will generate revenues from advertising, as well as from generating leads and customer referrals that it will forward to licensed realtors who sign up for its referrals service. "Next One believes that video-on-demand is an ideal platform for consumers to shop for homes in their local market as well as vacation properties in destinations around the world," Next One vice chairman and CEO, Bill Kerby, said in a prepared statement. "Interested buyers can use their remotes to browse listings on their televisions from the comfort of their couch. The real estate industry today seeks brand awareness and the ability to reach new potential buyers. Comcast Spotlight's Searchlight advertising platform enables Homes TV to provide a valuable service to consumers and real estate companies and another media platform for Next One to generate revenue from interstitial advertising, sponsorships, referral fees and commissions consistent with our business model." Added Greg O'Brien, Comcast Spotlight's VP of advanced TV: "Working with Next One Interactive is a great opportunity for Comcast Spotlight to add even more value to our Searchlight video-on-demand advertising platform. VOD, with its engaging video, user-controlled experience and 24x7 availability, is an ideal platform for home shoppers to get a real feel for properties on the market. Homes TV On Demand is a natural fit with our strategy of making advertising more engaging and connecting with consumers by making relevant, interactive content available when they want to view it."

A demo video of Homes TV On Demand is embedded above.