Channel 4 appoints ODG for 4oD content management

[BGonaSTICK]

On Demand Group has been appointed to provide a range of content management and reporting services for Channel 4's video-on-demand service, "4oD", now available to Virgin Media customers. ODG has implemented its own content management system to manage 4oD's video distribution and data processing requirements in order to ensure the smooth delivery of video content as part of a seamless customer experience.

4oD, Channel 4's own brand video-on-demand service, was launched successfully to all Virgin Media customers in October 2006. The service offers an initial line-up of nearly 1,000 new and library Channel 4 titles. It is updated daily with a weekly turnover of 75 hours of content.The VOD content and metadata ingest services provided by ODG for the 4oD service encompass the distribution of video materials encoded by Channel 4 onto the cable platform and the processing of data to supply customers with up-to-date programme information. ODG ensures that both content and data are delivered in a compatible format that Virgin Media's existing cable infrastructure can ingest.

ODG has also developed a reporting solution for Channel 4 to support the launch of its VOD services on the Virgin Media platform. Using On Demand's content management system in conjunction with a Business Objects and Oracle data management back end, the solution enables Channel 4 to gain valuable insight into the viewing behaviour of its VOD customers.