Starz Launches Movie Download Service
Starz Entertainment Group launched a new video download application dubbed Vongo on Tuesday, which allows playback of content on Windows-based PCs, laptops and portable media devices, including televisions. The service would provide unlimited access to 1,000 movies and videos, as well as streaming video of the Starz television channel for a monthly fee.
Each account would be permitted to download content on up to three devices for the $9.99 USD monthly rate. Some movies would be available on a pay-per-view basis for $3.99 USD per download, Starz said.
The cable movie channel also announced the first partnerships to extend Vongo's reach, bringing in Sony and Microsoft. Sony would use Vongo as part of its upcoming Sony Connect video offering, and Microsoft is providing assistance to Starz for the technical aspects of the service.
Titles to be made available through Vongo initially include "Hitch," "Kill Bill Vol. 2," "Pulp Fiction," "Good Will Hunting," and "Dances With Wolves" among others.
The pay-per-view option would allow Vongo to expand its catalog as well as offer newer movies sooner, Starz said. The company also noted that it is adding non-movie content to the service; however. Vongo's focus would would be movie downloads.
Some additional programming to be available include concerts such as "INXS: Live Baby Live," "Prince - Sign 'o' the Times," and "The Who: Live in Boston," in addition to some extreme sports telecasts. The company is also looking at adding television shows, however that is dependent on customer feedback.
Starz senior vice president of advanced services Bob Greene said that the company expects the offering to complement rather than cannibalize its existing cable and satellite channels. Company research showed that seven out of ten subscribers to its Starz Ticket service, which is offered through RealNetworks, were not subscribers to the television channel.
"Vongo expands the pie," Greene said. He added that Starz Ticket would continue to be available, but the focus of the company would now turn to the Vongo download service.
Starz said it plans to show off the service at CES 2006 through its partners Microsoft and Sony.