Film4oD launches 'download to rent' service

26 September 2011

Film4oD, Film4's online film-on-demand service, today announced the launch of a ‘download to rent' service that will enable Film4oD viewers to watch films offline for the very first time.

The service, which saves the movie to the user's computer, has been introduced to enable users either with low bandwidth or those who would like to watch a film when not connected to the internet, such as when travelling or abroad. The new functionality also allows users to begin watching their selection while the film is being downloaded.

With films available from between £0.99 to £3.99, the download to rent service launches with Film4's Attack the Block and Arthur available to watch the same day as they are released on DVD. Film4oD, powered by VOD white-label specialists FilmFlex, offers more new releases* to rent online than anyone else, including iTunes, Lovefilm or Blinkbox with many available on the same day as their DVD release.

Film4oD, available at www.film4od.com, was launched in November 2010 and has more than 50,000 registered users. The introduction of the download to rent service complements the existing online streaming service.

Film4 Channel Manager, Julia Wrigley, said: "Video on demand continues to soar in popularity with viewers enjoying the freedom to watch their preferred content on their own terms. We're excited to offer ‘download to rent', further strengthening the viewer experience alongside the Film4oD online streaming and Film4 channel."

All movie rentals on Film4oD offer unlimited viewing for up to 48 hours following the first play. Each film has a rental period of up to 30 days.  All movies are protected by approved digital rights management technologies and the service is geo-blocked to the UK.

 

About Film4oD

Simple and easy-to-use, Film4oD is an online film-on-demand service which closely compliments the editorial tone and philosophy of the Film4 channel.

Two years of development and consumer research were carried out by VOD white-label specialists FilmFlex to deliver this market-leading movie service.

Almost 1,200 individual titles have been bought since Film4oD launched in November 2010, and the site has had more than 8.3 million page views and over 1.7m unique visitors. On average, there are in excess of 8,000 visits a day to the site, of which returning visitors make up nearly 30%.

* ‘New releases' denotes films available post their theatrical and DVD release but ahead of the pay-TV window

About FilmFlex

FilmFlex is the UK's leading on-demand movie service provider having managed the VOD movie service on Virgin Media since 2005, with over 65,000,000 buys to date.

FilmFlex is a joint venture between Sony Pictures Television (a Sony Pictures Entertainment company) and The Walt Disney Company EMEA, and has content deals with over 30 movie suppliers including all the Hollywood Studios. 

FilmFlex has developed and built an online VOD platform after two years of research and development and is partnering with a number of leading technology companies.  So far two services for major media brand clients have been launched, Virgin Media www.virginmedia.com/onlinemovies and Film4oD www.film4od.com. More announcements of partnerships with leading brands will follow later in 2011.