NBC Universal Signs with Net TV Firm Aeon

By Geoff Duncan February 8, 2006

NBC Universal has entered into a licensing agreement with on-demand Internet TV vendor Aeon Digital to make movies and television events available on-demand over the Internet to users of Aeon’s set-top boxes.

The deal will include movies from the Universal library, including films like Ray,The Motorcycle Diaries,Skeleton Key, and The Wedding Date, as well as upcoming titles like The 40-Year Old Virgin and The Constant Gardener. Television and event-based programming will include Jerry Springer Uncensored, the 5th Wheel and Blind Date franchises, family-friendly programming like the Balto series, The Land Before Time, and Kicking & Screaming.

The programming will be available to users of Aeon’s forthcoming DV-220 set top box, which the company says they expect to launch in early 2006 for $299. In addition to DVR capabilities, the DV-220 provides IP-based access to the Aeon Digital network via the user’s broadband Internet connection. The Aeon Digital network is described as providing access to “millions of songs, radio programming and thousands of theatrical films.” All content is encoded in Microsoft’s Windows Media format and DRM technologies;

No pricing has been set for on-demand movies from the Universal film library, but Aeon says titles will be available for a 24-hour period after access has been purchased.

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