Based on growing demand and desire for Internet video entertainment content across the country, Rogers today announced the official launch of Rogers On Demand Online, featuring new content and enhanced services including new social tools, new primetime and multicultural programming, improved functionality, higher resolution and live streaming capabilities.
After a successful Beta phase, Rogers On Demand Online is officially Canada’s one-stop Web destination for on-demand access to a vast video library that features prime time, daytime and specialty TV, movies, sports and music videos. Available to any Rogers Digital Cable, Rogers Wireless, Rogers Home Phone and Rogers Hi Speed Internet customers, Rogers On Demand Online now offers more programming content including live sporting events, concerts and new web-exclusive programming. Rogers Digital Cable customers can also join to watch many of the same subscription-based specialty channels online as they have through their television account.
“Canadians are looking for their video entertainment needs to be met wherever and whenever they want and they want to share it,” says David Purdy, Vice President, Television and Video Product Management, Rogers Communications. “Rogers On Demand Online enhances the customer experience by leveraging Rogers expertise in home entertainment and extending the best video experience online. Viewers benefit from a high quality, extremely convenient, robust, anytime, anywhere entertainment experience.”
Online television and video viewing is significantly gaining in popularity in Canada. Findings from ComScore study state that 90 per cent of online Canadians are watching online video (1). Another recent survey showed that Canadians are now spending more than 18 hours each week online (2). Rogers has made enhancements to Rogers On Demand Online based on the popularity of its home entertainment services, rise in online viewing and the growth in social networking. The service now includes new community and social features including commenting capabilities, sharing options, the ability to create playlists, and rate videos. In addition, Rogers On Demand Online now offers a registration-free sampling of content available to all Canadians including non-Rogers customers.
“Video viewing on the Internet is changing the way we and our customers think about entertainment,” added Purdy. “As the innovator in the category, we’re proud to lead its evolution.”
New features and enhancements include:
– Up to 1,500 hours of content, including web-exclusive live streaming of concerts and world sporting events for Rogers customers
– New community and social tools including commenting, rating, sharing (via Facebook, Twitter, Email and more), and playlists
– Improved functionality and higher resolution viewing
– In addition to its current 20 partners including Canwest and Corus Entertainment, Rogers is pleased to announce several new content partners including: The Cineplex Channel featuring movie trailers; Shorts in the City; Saturday Night Live (Global); urMusic; WildTV; Equator HD; Rush HD; The Filipino Channel (TFC); Oasis HD; andPOP; WFN: World Fishing Network; and Treasure HD
– Choices for accessibility including the option of an audio challenge-response decoder when registering versus text-only
– Many of the specialty channels that customers subscribe to through their Rogers Digital Cable account
Rogers On Demand Online launched in Beta in late November 2009, with more than 20 content partners, featuring a video library with more than 1,000 hours of content. Now officially out of Beta, Rogers has added over 500 hours of content and 19 channels and continues to build out the functionality and enhanced user experience. Over the coming weeks, Canadians can expect further content and programming announcements with major partners from Rogers.
By visiting www.rogersondemand.com, both Rogers customers and non-Rogers customers can familiarize themselves with the service before registering. Rogers customers who wish to access exclusive content or specialty channels can quickly join online using their Rogers account information. It is easy and accessible from anywhere in Canada with an Internet connection. Rogers On Demand Online fans can also visit the Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/RogersOnDemandOnline) or follow on Twitter @RogersRODO (http://twitter.com/rogersrodo) to get the latest updates and provide feedback on the service.
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(1) Source: The comScore 2009 Digital Year in Review
(2) Ipsos Reid Canada Study: Weekly Internet Usage Overtakes Television
Watching, March 22, 2010
