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–Signs Deal with Discovery, Offers More Chinese Content

Akimbo Systems–a San Mateo, Calif.-based company which offers a subscription-based, Internet-delivered VOD service that features a wide array of mainstream and niche content, ranging from standard cable fare from such companies as National Geographic and Cartoon Network to videoblogs produced by amateurs–is giving its subscribers the option of purchasing content via a new download-to-own feature. Subscribers will be able to store the content they purchase in a number of ways: options will include storing titles on the Akimbo Player (note: the latter is a special $199, hard-drive equipped set-top box that is currently the only way of accessing Akimbo’s service: it features an 80Gb hard drive, capable of storing over 150 hours of content, and an EPG that provides extensive information on and video previews of available programming offerings; Akimbo subscribers use the EPG to select programs from the service’s library, which are then downloaded to the box for future viewing), or on a Microsoft Media Center (note: the service is scheduled to launch on the latter platform next month). In early 2006, subscribers will also be able to purchase titles for burning to DVD using Windows Media Format. Akimbo says that select titles will be available for archiving on its servers, and made available for future downloads by subscribers. The service’s first download-to-own offerings include music videos and concert programs, fitness videos, children’s programming, and a selection of independent films. "Consumers embraced legitimate digital downloads to the benefit of the entertainment industry and to the detriment of the pirates," Akimbo CEO, Josh Goldman, said in a prepared statement. "Download-to-own will be a boon for video, especially with the continued popularity of video-on-demand. That’s why Akimbo is the first company to develop a download-to-own feature for a video-on-demand service. We’re addressing both the enthusiasm of our subscribers and the needs of our content partners."

In other Akimbo news:

–The company has signed a deal with Discovery Networks, that will see content from seven of the latter’s channels–Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel,  Military Channel and Discovery Kids Channel–offered on its service. Programs available on Akimbo’s service as a result of the new deal include Discovery Channel’s "MythBusters," Animal Planet’s "Corwin’s Quest," and Discovery Kids Channel’s "Darcy’s Wild Life." The service currently offers around 4,000 programs from over 125 content providers, and claims to add on average 250 more each week.

–The company has significantly increased the amount of Mandarin- and Cantonese- (Chinese) language content available on its service, via deals with AsiaMovieChannel.com, Inside China and a number of other partners. The service now offers nearly 1,000 Chinese-language titles, with more being added each week: the content includes movies, TV series, and documentaries about Chinese art and people. In a recent interview (see [itvt] Issue 6.20), Akimbo CEO, Josh Goldman, told [itvt] that the company believes that "households with first- and second-generation immigrants are an extremely attractive market for our service, as the technology allows delivery of culturally important content that is otherwise not economical to distribute."

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