On January 5th, Starz Entertainment Group LLC (SEG) announced plans to roll out an upgraded version of its Starz On Demand (www.starzondemand.com) service during the first quarter of 2005. The enhancements will include additional, exclusive programming not available on the linear channels as well as improved navigational devices and on-screen features. New categories with enhanced on-screen menu categories and sub-categories will include Anime - "Cutting-edge Japanese animated movies and series". ANS recently spoke with the network to find out what it's full upcoming plans for anime are:
Anime News Service: What is the Starz' present and future commitment to anime and manga and is the company looking at ways to specifically bolster its content and viewer experience surrounding animation titles?
Starz:
We have been offering anime content on television for quite some time now on the Action Channel and WAM!, our linear channel dedicated to teenagers. The Action Channel airs gAnimidnighth every Friday night which is a collection of anime movies and series. In April, we will run the anime series Hellsing on the Action channel, and the live action blockbuster movie will premiere on Starz.
Our Acquisitions Groups is actively pursuing several deals with independent anime distributors, and ongoing negotiations will occur to ensure fresh anime content is added to our library on a regular basis.
Anime content will be made available via three avenues -- on the Action Channel, WAM! and soon as an important part of Starz On Demand. On-demand technology has provided us with the ideal vehicle to expand our anime programming. Starz is known in the industry for providing viewers with the best first run movies, and starting April 1, 2005, in addition to blockbuster films, movie lovers can go to Starz On Demand and view unique movie genres and features, including anime.
Making this content available on demand bolsters the viewing experience by enabling the viewer to pause, fast forward, rewind the movie, or watch it again and again, AT NO EXTRA COST. Starz On Demand is part of the Starz subscription where on-demand technology is available, and is an integral component of our commitment to offer our subscribers the best movies available to watch on their terms.
Anime content is also available on STARZ! Ticket on Real Movies, our online movie subscription service. Subscribers have access to a rotating library of at least 150 movies for downloading and viewing for only $12.95 per month. Unlike pay-per-view services, STARZ! Ticket on Real Movies does not charge a separate fee each time a movie is downloaded, so subscribers can watch as much and as often as they want for no additional charge. Approximately 25% of the STARZ! Ticket on Real Movies library is rotated weekly, equating to over 150 unique titles made available each month. Offered in RealVideoR 10.5 and through RealPlayerR, movies will take as little as a few minutes to download depending on the speed of the subscriberfs broadband service.
ANS: What can viewers expect from your new anime category as part of the Starz On Demand service?
Starz:
When the genre option first appears on Starz On Demand, five to eight anime movies (sometimes more) will be available at any time, with approximately two new titles being added each week. All titles will be available for viewing for four weeks. An eclectic array of films including Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, Vampire Hunter D, and Ghost in the Shell will make up the anime library. Cutting-edge series available on Starz On Demand will include Vandread, Hellsing and more. Many of the above-mentioned content will be exclusive to Starz On Demand.
Going forward, we will continue to air anime content on WAM! and the Action Channel, as well as populate the anime section of Starz On Demand with new and exciting films and series. Our programming experts fully understand the popularity of this genre, and look forward to providing anime to these fans.
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