A partnership with On Demand Group has facilitated Vodacom's second mobile TV offering in as many weeks.
Called TV:On Demand, the new service allows the on-demand streaming of a variety of series and videos to subscribers at R75 per month, or R20 per week.
Series will become available shortly after television release and can be accessed through Vodafone Live at any time, with no additional data charge and no cap.
Last week, Vodacom and MultiChoice announced a partnership that provided monthly or weekly subscriptions to 11 DStv channels via 3G. While users likewise do not pay data charges, the service is limited to 180 minutes of viewing per month, or 45 minutes per week.
The subscription prices for both services are similar: the DStv service being R75 per month and R19 per week, but TV:On Demand says it will not cap usage and the content can be accessed at any time, and can be paused and resumed later.
According to the GM of TV:On Demand, Victor Borges: “We see these services being complimentary in that they are very different from one another and this gives the freedom of choice to the Vodacom customer. We have seen in other territories that the OnDemand service gives the consumer that much more in regard to convenience and control to watch what they want, when they want it."
Independent telecommunications analyst Richard Hurst says it makes sense for Vodacom to be increasing its mobile television offering. “Cellular providers want to be more than a mere connection. Vodacom is hedging its bets in case one solution does not work or attract customers.”
The TV:On Demand service will be available to all Vodacom customers with 3G Vodafone Live-enabled cellphones that support live streaming.
At launch, shows available are: Lost, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, The Sopranos, Sex and the City, Entourage, South Park, Spongebob Squarepants, Pimp my Ride, Avatar, Dora the Explorer, Andromeda, Mutant X, The Collector, Relic Hunter and hundreds of music videos.
TV:On Demand promises over 550 hours of new content per year, with new episodes being released weekly.
The offering is currently available for a month's free trial.
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