MGM Home Entertainment, a subsidiary of Metro Goldwyn Mayer, has partnered with CinemaNow, a developer of Internet video-on-demand technology to show select MGM titles on the Web to test consumer interest in delivering movies via broadband.
The first movies offered on the site -- www.cinemanow.com -- are "What's The Worst That Could Happen?" and "The Man in the Iron Mask," starring Leonardo DiCaprio and became available for downloading Feb. 20, the same day the movies become available in their traditional pay-per-view window. As part of the agreement, CinemaNow will show the films at various price points and aggregate data regarding user purchasing patterns with respect to the films.
The test "allows us to explore how consumers are using Internet VOD and helps us prepare for a more competitive future," says David Bishop, president and COO, MGM Home Entertainment Group.
"Patchbay," CinemaNow's proprietary video-on-demand technology platform, already employed for online content distribution throughout the world, will facilitate all aspects of the pilot distribution program.
