BVITV and Flextech TV ink UK licensing agreement

BVITV and Flextech TV ink UK licensing agreement

BVIT

MUMBAI: Walt Disney's Buena Vista International Television (BVITV) and Flextech Television have announced a UK licensing agreement for the launch of acquired US network series content on Flextech's new broadband service.

As per the agreement with BVITV, Flextech's new service will offer on-demand and on a rental basis, series like Grey's Anatomy, Extreme Makeover and Alias, which air on Living TV and Bravo.

Accessible via the channel websites www.livingtv.co.uk and www.bravo.co.uk, the service enables UK users to download episodes that will be available for a 24 hour window within seven days of downloading, informs an official release.

In partnership with online broadcasting solutions provider Servecast and protected by Digital Rights Management software, this new service will enable viewers to download Living TV and Bravo's homegrown shows. In addition, episodes of commissioned programme brands such as Most Haunted, Sin Cities and Real Football Factories will also be available for download, priced at £2.50 per episode.

The release adds that the line-up of titles available for download will be coordinated with Living TV and Bravo's linear schedules, maximising the on-air promotional opportunities created by the new service, with series two of a programme appearing on air as the first series becomes available online. Free episodes will also offer tasters of the latest shows on the Living TV and Bravo channels.

Commenting on the agreement, BVITV EMEA executive VP and MD Tom Toumazis said, "We are working closely with international partners to use new technology in bringing our content to consumers in flexible new ways, and are pleased that viewers in the UK will now be able to enjoy these gripping hit series on demand through our agreement with Flextech."

Flextech Television head of interactive Edward Humphrey said, "We'll experiment with a variety of pricing models including PPV, packaging and subscriptions to better understand how our audience wants to purchase TV content online. We'll also continue to offer free preview downloads of new shows - as recently demonstrated with Bravo's Man's Work - to encourage sampling of new content."

The new service provides another medium for audiences to connect with Flextech's brands, which are already available as linear TV channels, via cable video-on-demand, on the web and via mobile networks, adds the release.