The increasingly rich programming offered by cable’s video on demand services is one reason TV MoJoe has resisted the lure of DirecTV. (That, and their use of dead celebs is just creepy).
VOD’s best feature is in markets where the broadcast networks have agreed to participate. I caught up on an entire season of "Parks & Recreation" last week because of NBC On Demand. Now, I’m a fan for life (seriously, "P&R" is really, really good people. Watch it!)
One of the worst parts of VOD, however, is that so many cable companies (including Time Warner in NY and LA) still offer a user interface designed a few centuries ago. Finding the shows you want is difficult, and, even worse, slow. It can take 15-30 seconds for a menu screen to load– an eternity in the Era of Now.
Only the cablers can fix the speed issues. But now, a new website could make it easier to sort through the gazillion choices available on VOD.
Officially launched this week, On Demand Weekly is designed to "cut through the clutter and provide viewers with a destination that promotes the best programming on Video On Demand," according to Larry Aidem, President & CEO, RayV, a member of the ODW advisory board.
ODW is the brainchild of co-founders Britt Bensen and Doug Turner, two former Miramax staffers. Most recently, Bensen had been at Sundance Channel while Turner worked for Maxim magazine.
The site is being tailored to Time Warner and Comcast subscribers for now, with plans to expand to other cable providers in the future. Editors will try to select the best viewing options in 12 popular categories, including movies and sports.
