Australia's Reeltime in VOD Content Deals with Granada, Palace Films

Sydney, Australia-based Reeltime--which plans to launch a TV- and PC-based IP VOD service for ISP's and telcos in the first quarter of 2006, and which says that it has secured access to Australia's national broadband network via wholesale agreements with Telstra and other carriers--has signed content deals with Granada International and Palace Films.

The deal with Granada International will see a range of the latter's films and TV programs available on Reeltime's service at its launch, including classics such as "Prime Suspect" and "Inspector Morse," and newer titles such as "Rosemary and Thyme" and "Nanny 911." "We are delighted to see a number of our dramas available for VOD in Australia," Glen Hansen, VP of Australian sales at Granada International, said in a prepared statement. "VOD is one of the new growth areas of our business and we believe this will be the start of a new and long relationship with Reeltime."

The deal with Palace Films has a multi-year term and gives Reeltime the rights to offer the latter's Australian and international first-run features and library titles on its service. Palace Films' new releases include Geoffrey Wright's "Macbeth," which stars Sam Worthington, and "Irresistible," which stars Susan Sarandon. Its library titles include "Chopper," "Lantana," "Japanese Story," and "State and Main." Reeltime also claims to have secured a library of over 7,000 first-run features from Columbia, TriStar, Screen Gems, Sony Classics, MGM and UA. A spokesperson for Reeltime told [itvt] in an email that the company plans to announce other studio content deals "in the next few weeks."

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