Charter expands VOD reach

Susan Rush
From the October 28th edition of CED Broadband Direct

Charter Communications is moving full speed ahead with its video-on-demand launch. The MSO is rolling out the service in nine new markets with the help of VOD equipment vendors nCUBE Corp. and Concurrent Computer Corp.

Charter is introducing VOD to its customers in Allendale, Mich.; Fond du Lac, Janesville and Madison, Wis.; Jackson, Kingsport and Manchester, Tenn.; Kennewick, Wash.; and St. Peters, Mo. The addition of these markets extends Charter's VOD reach to 21 markets.

In five of the new markets, Charter will deploy Concurrent's MediaHawk Broadband VOD system. Concurrent's equipment will serve Allendale, St. Peters, Fond du Lac, Janesville and Madison. Charter has deployed Concurrent equipment in 11 markets thus far. Concurrent first signed on as a Charter VOD partner in April. The deal marked the end of Charter's exclusive partnership with the now bankrupt Diva Systems Inc.

nCUBE's n4x enhanced video server will be used in the four remaining markets, which will bring the total number of markets Charter has deployed the vendor's equipment to 10. This latest deployment covers the cities of Kennewick, Kingsport, Jackson and Manchester.

nCUBE inked its partnership with Charter in June.

Charter Digital Cable subscribers have access to the VOD service via their existing set-tops. VOD programming prices range between 99 cents for children's programs to $3.99 for a recently released movie for a 24 hour rental period.