Voom goes HD VOD
By Richard Lawler 
posted Jun 14th 2008 8:40AM
posted Jun 14th 2008 8:40AM
We're still not sure how the Voom / DISH Network spat will end, but Voom is moving on, unveiling a companion HD VOD service for the Voom HD and Rush HD channels it distributes around the world. There's apparently no word on any operators actually signing on to the service yet, but once available viewers can expect just five hours of content per month. Hopefully that number can grow as the channels add more original content, but if it doesn't, we don't see too many people beating the door down asking for this on demand network to be added.
I wholehartedly approve of this.
As one of the most anti-Voom people there is, I do recognize when Voom hits the right spot.
Instead of wasting an entire HD channel to show the same stuff every 4-5 hours, they can provide it on demand and if you want to watch it every 4-5 hours you can watch it off your hard drive over and over.
And if these channels become popular enough on VOD, they will have an irrefutable case to get carriage on cable and satellite systems.
It seems OK for folks to beat up on the Voom network but I genuinely miss them. People who come into my home theatre universally want to see great HD. I used to merely dial up any of the Voom channels (especially RUSH) and the "ohs and ahs" would begin.
I am truly disappointed with Mr. Ergin's unwillingness to continue to try to strike a deal. His attiitude on the last "Charlie Chat" was disturbing and extremely self-serving. He talked about "honor" and "honesty" but his claims fell on deaf ears to me. Frankly, if the Court Documents from VOOM are correct then dropping VOOM has nothing really to do with repeats, it's all about the damaging deal Dish signed with VOOM. I wish I knew the truth about the situation but I doubt we ever will. I did take time to pause, however, and reflect on a young Charlie Ergen fighting the good fight to keep "C band" open for everyone. I loved his tenatious fight to keep the likes of the large MSOs from beating up on we poor little satellite owners. He is no longer the hero he used to be to me, however, and without VOOM services I'll drop my long time status as one of Dish's preferred customers once I've fulfilled my obligations.
I think the truth is in the last failed Sat launch, not enough room to fit new HD channels. Hope the next Sat launch is very successful.
I fully expect DirecTV to take on the most popular VOOM channels once their new satellite is lit up. DISH has a terrible bandwidth problem due to their launch failure, and VOOM lost out as a result.
DirecTV could steal a lot of DISH subs by picking up part of VOOM. (The HDVOD wouldn't hurt either, considering they don't have any.)
I fully expect you to be very disappointed when the new bird is up and running.
DirecTV has HD VOD content. They currently offer I Am Legend, The Golden Compass, Enchanted and several other movies. I'm looking at the list right now.