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‘ANYTIME on VOLT’ teams ANYTIME and Fairfax Digital
with iiNet, Intel, PIPE Networks and leading local and Hollywood
studios
Singapore, 29 March 2007 - ANYTIME, Asia Pacific’s
dominant Video on-Demand (VoD) channel, and Fairfax Digital, Australia's
leading provider of online news and classifieds websites, today
announced the launch of ANYTIME on VOLT.
Launching initially in Australia, ANYTIME on VOLT is a new VoD service
that will deliver the latest Hollywood and local blockbuster movies,
TV shows, popular music videos and premium games to consumers in
Australia and New Zealand. The service has been built in partnership
with iiNet, Intel and PIPE Networks and will initially carry movie
content from leading studios including Sony, Universal, Warner Bros.,
ICON and Becker.
From today, consumers can download content from ANYTIME on VOLT
and watch it on their desktop PC or living room TV connected to
a home entertainment PC. At launch, over 300 titles, such as The
Da Vinci Code, Miami Vice, and Superman Returns, will be available
from the service, with new titles added on a regular basis. ANYTIME
on VOLT is available at www.anytime-tv.com.
Also announced today, ANYTIME has entered into an exclusive promotional
partnership with iiNet, Australia’s third largest Internet
Service Provider and leader in ADSL2+ network roll-out. The partnership
allows iiNet customers to enjoy un-metered downloads from the ANYTIME
on VOLT service.
“ANYTIME on VOLT is born out of a strategic alliance between
ANYTIME and Fairfax Digital, aimed at bringing a compelling Video
on-Demand entertainment service to consumers in Australia,”
says ANYTIME President and Chief Executive Officer Craig Zimbulis.
“I believe that by leveraging Fairfax Digital’s online
experience and reach, with our expertise in Video on-Demand content
and delivery, we’ve created a very compelling service for
consumers that will develop into a significant business. Our promotional
partnership with iiNet is also very important for us, allowing iiNet
customers un-metered access to the entire range of content on the
ANYTIME VoD service on VOLT.”
Jack Matthews, CEO, Fairfax Digital, commented, “Today’s
agreement with ANYTIME marks a significant step in Fairfax Digital
broadening its information offering and becoming, among other things,
a leading online entertainment network.”
“ANYTIME on VOLT significantly expands the entertainment choices
for our audience, giving them easy access to premium video entertainment
over the Internet. The service is easy to use, convenient and affordable.”
iiNet’s CEO, Michael Malone said, “We are very pleased
to be working with ANYTIME and Fairfax Digital in launching ANYTIME
on VOLT un-metered to our customers.”
“iiNet has a high speed broadband network based on ADSL2+
which is capable of delivered speeds of up to 24Mbps to customers.
Even at an average speed of 10Mbps, movies will just fly down.”
“High speed ADSL2+ has been available for a couple of years
now. The applications to take advantage of the speed just haven’t
been there yet. It’s great to be working with Fairfax and
ANYTIME to deliver a product that shows what doors can open when
you’ve got a real broadband connection.”
Movie files will be downloaded to the users' PC for a 7-day period
after which the file will be automatically erased. During this time
viewers can activate their 24-hour viewing license and watch the
movie as many times as they wish during that 24-hour period. On
a 1.5Mbps Internet connection, an average 90-minute movie will take
around 90 minutes to download. However, movies can be viewed immediately
once a download begins.
Movies are priced at AUD$5.95 for a new release and AUD$3.50 for
a catalogue title. There are no joining fees or late fees for the
ANYTIME on VOLT service. Payment is made securely through the website
by Visa or MasterCard.
The ANYTIME on VOLT experience will be enhanced by Intel(r) ViivTM
technology-based digital entertainment PCs, powered by Intel(r)
Core™ 2 Duo processors, providing high performance and great
digital media experiences. Intel Viiv technology helps connect the
PC and TV, and enables consumers to access, manage, share and enjoy
the extensive digital entertainment programs offered by ANYTIME
on VOLT, corresponding to families' entertainment needs.
Additionally, to provide the best possible data transmission speeds,
the service will be peered through Australia's largest independent
Internet peering and dark fibre infrastructure provider, PIPE Networks.
This will mean lower latency and high bandwidth infrastructure to
ensure the best possible customer experience.
To start enjoying ANYTIME on VOLT, viewers need an Internet connected
PC, Windows XP SP2, Internet Explorer 6 or higher, and Windows Media
Player 11.
ANYTIME on VOLT is the name of the ANYTIME-TV service in Australia
as part of ANYTIME’s strategic alliance with Fairfax Digital.
The ANYTIME-TV service will be rolled-out in other Asia Pacific
markets this year. Specific launch dates for other markets will
be announced progressively.
- ends -
About ANYTIME
ANYTIME is Asia Pacific’s dominant Video on-Demand channel
delivered to consumers over IPTV, broadband and digital cable networks
With output deals and access to the libraries of five of Hollywood’s
leading studios - Fox, Sony, Warner, NBC Universal and Buena Vista
(Disney) International Television - and licenses with regional content
providers like Celestial Pictures, ICON Film Distribution, ANYTIME
has an unsurpassed programming line-up.
When added to proven technology, ANYTIME delivers compelling content
with the control and convenience that consumers demand. ANYTIME
has existing carriage deals in Australia, India, China, Taiwan and
Thailand, and the rights to license into 15 territories in Asia
Pacific.
Chaired by Greg Coote, ANYTIME’s shareholders include Columbia
Pictures Entertainment Holdings Inc. (Sony), Fox Media Services
Inc., Intel Capital, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., YTC Group
(a Singapore based multinational conglomerate), and the Macquarie
Bank Group.
About ANYTIME on VOLT
ANYTIME on VOLT will deliver the widest range of Hollywood blockbusters,
Australian movies, premium TV and music programming to Australian
consumers. It will provide a whole new level of convenience for
video entertainment. ANYTIME on VOLT will be an ultra-convenient,
reliable and affordable way for people everywhere to get the video
entertainment they want, when they want it.
About Fairfax Digital
Fairfax Digital is Australia's leading provider of online news and
classifieds. Comprising around 30 interactive sites which reach
over eight million visitors each month, Fairfax Digital provides
incisive and constantly updated information on news, finance, business,
IT, sport and entertainment - and features the online presence of
some of Australia's most prominent media brands such as smh.com.au,
theage.com.au, and afr.com.au.
As part of one of the world's most respected news information organisations
John Fairfax Holdings - Fairfax Digital draws on the news and information
sources of Fairfax to deliver sites and services that are trusted
and reliable.
About Intel
Intel, the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies;
products and initiatives to continually advance how people work
and live. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom.
About iiNet
iiNet is one of Australia’s Internet service pioneers, having
begun in Western Australia in 1993. iiNet has built a reputation
for providing innovative, high quality Internet access backed by
friendly 24-hour customer service and support.
iiNet has built its own high speed broadband network using ADSL2+
technology which now reaches the majority of households in capital
cities. The Company is also one of the first and largest Voice Over
IP (“VoIP”) providers in Australia.
iiNet is the third largest Internet Service Provider in Australia
and is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.
About PIPE Networks
PIPE Networks is a public listed company (ASX: PWK), headquartered
in Brisbane, with branch offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide
and Hobart.
PIPE Networks provides network infrastructure services for Australian
clients, and has three lines of business: The Company operates the
nation’s largest Internet Exchange, with a network across
six capital cities serving some of Australia’s largest content
and internet service providers. PIPE Networks also builds and operates
one of Australia’s largest metropolitan fibre optic networks,
offering clients in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth
access to the company’s “Dark Fibre” service.
In addition, PIPE Network clients trust in the company’s ability
to provide secure sites for their IT equipment, giving them more
options for primary, backup or disaster recovery sites. As a young,
agile company, PIPE Networks is able to foresee and quickly respond
to client needs.
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