23 March, 2004 - Today, Virtual Highway, a Canadian start-up, launches the first internet view-on-demand and subscription service that showcases new independent films from around the world, and older, high-quality "classic" (art-house) films. The service, called Independent Choice" opens with films by such directors as Eisenstein, Dreyer, Murnau, Pasolini and Bunuel.
(PRWEB) March 26 2004--The brainchild of Vancouver-based film aficionados and hi-tech professionals, Ed Folger and Ferdinand Ho, Virtual Highway's primary goal is to help independent artists present their work directly to their audience without the constraints imposed by conventional, high-overhead distribution channels - there is no charge to indie artists for this service. In parallel, it caters to a niche audience seeking films that may otherwise not be shown.
Ed Folger, director of Virtual Highway and himself an independent film director, said, "Today, independent film producers are finding it increasingly difficult to obtain distribution for movies. The massive marketing of the blockbuster system has forced the smaller budget, more thoughtful films out of the theatrical marketplace." Audiences for these films and the historical 'classics' that have inspired modern Indie filmmakers are finding it almost impossible to see these movies in a theatre. Virtual Highway is the result of an outcry from both producers and consumers for a better method of distribution.
According to Ferdinand Ho, co-founder and director of Virtual Highway, "Subscription video services are expected to grow from about $900 million to $4.5 billion by 2007. The same demographic who use the Internet for VOD - higher-income, better-educated households - are also likely to be interested in Independent/Foreign/Classic films." Virtual Highway offers a convenient service that allows subscribers to download high-quality movies and view them on their computers or home entertainment systems.
Films will be delivered as DVD quality encoded video on secure private servers, encrypted and protected by DRM, and video watermarks. Users download custom software, designed by ObjectCube, Inc, and register with a username and password, which are required to view the films. The software, allows users to download and manage their movie collection.
Initially, Virtual Highway will launch 16 films, with access to 1,800 more in the coming months. At US $4.99 per film, the viewer has 30 days' unlimited viewing, after which, the viewing period can be extended by additional 30-day segments. Monthly subscriptions will be available which will bring the cost to subscribers down to US $4.00 or $3.00 per film.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT http://www.vhighway.com
TEL: (604) 988-4707; EMAIL: info@vhighway.com
FAX: (270)-837-5279
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