e.Digital Corporation (fka EDIG)

[cksla]

CinemaNow, a provider of Internet-based
video-on-demand services, said on Thursday that it has partnered with
broadband entertainment network provider Cflix to offer CinemaNow films to
Duke University students. The films will be delivered on Cflix's system,
which transmits content on Duke's closed network at speeds up to 700kbps.
CinemaNow and Cflix also plan to examine the online behavior of the
college student demographic as well as their demand for downloadable and
streaming Internet-based film content. Marina del Rey-based CinemaNow said
that additional college campuses are expected to roll out in fall of 2002.
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http://www.cinemanow.com
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CinemaNow shows off VOD 'central nervous system'

By Ann Donahue


OCT. 1 / CinemaNow on Monday unveiled "PatchBay," a technology that can be licensed by other Web sites in order to distribute video-on-demand online content.

PatchBay was built on the Microsoft Windows operating system, thereby making it compatible for content shown via the Windows Media Player. It is the technology that CinemaNow uses to distribute its library of more than 250 feature-length films.

The company hopes to turn the technology into a revenue generator, billing it as a way for dot-coms that are interested in having VOD to securely track the transmission of films and the revenue generated from them.

"We look forward to working with companies to implement PatchBay as the central nervous system for their video-on-demand initiatives," said Brad Serling, CinemaNow's chief technology officer.

Besides tracking and delivering content, PatchBay also includes capabilities for digital rights protection that can limit the number of times video is shown; e-commerce management for sites wanting to integrate virtual stores into their offerings; and advertising that works on any IP-enabled device, including set-top boxes and handhelds.

"PatchBay leverages all the most competitive aspects of IP-based video-on-demand, including worldwide distribution and a high rate of potential revenue return to distributors, in a form that can be easily implemented by studios and production companies seeking to further monetize their film libraries," said CEO Curt Marvis.

CinemaNow, the online arm of Lions Gate Entertainment, and Microsoft have long been part of a strategic relationship to provide VOD content via the software giant's media player. PatchBay also supports earlier versions of Microsoft's video technology.