TELUS Launches VOD with Content from CTV

Gail Chiasson, North American Editor

CTV, Canada’s leading private broadcaster, and TELUS have announced a new initiative that will give TELUS customers unprecedented access to some of Canada’s most-watched television programs via TELUS mobile video streaming service.

CTV becomes TELUS’ first content provider for its new streaming video-on-demand service.

The new collaboration allows TELUS customers to access an array of content via their Smartphone or mobile phone. Content will be updated on a regular basis, and will be available on demand in easy-to-stream clip format.

Stephan Argent, CTV’s vice-president digital media, says, “This new initiative fits perfectly with our commitment to providing consumers access to quality content whenever and wherever they want it. Given the significant growth of high speed wireless networks and Smartphones, there’s no question that mobile video will play a role in delivering on this promise.”

The new video-on-demand offering from TELUS will incorporate CTV’s programming from some of television’s most popular properties including: Canada’s most watched News program,
CTV News, with top stories updated throughout the day; TSN and RDS – including game highlights and top stories; ETALK – top stories from Canada’s #1 Canadian entertainment newsmagazine; DAILY PLANET – The latest news from the internationally award-winning science program;and programming from specialty channels BNN, MuchMusic, MTV, The Comedy Network, and FashionTelevisionChannel.

“Two-thirds of Canadian households have access to mobile phones and they are looking more than ever for quick access to information and entertainment on-the-go,” says Brent Johnston, vice-president of marketing operations at TELUS. “Working with leading broadcasters such as CTV enables TELUS to bring video-on-demand content into the hands of our customers and to enhance our position as the carrier of choice for Canadian consumers.

Mobile video-on-demand service is available to TELUS wireless customers with various monthly subscription packages or à la carte. TELUS currently offers more than 27 video-capable handsets.

The TELUS Mobile video-on-demand initiative is the latest in CTV’s digital offerings, which have been experiencing stellar growth in 2009. CTVglobemedia Web sites are the #1 Canadian-owned properties streaming videos online, delivering almost half a billion video streams over the course of the past broadcast season. CTV’s mobile-optimized Web sites for TSN.ca and CTV.ca drive exceptional traffic, generating an average of more than 7.5 million page views combined per month, keeping visitors up-to-date on the latest sports results and breaking news stories.

TELUS has $9.7 billion of annual revenue and 11.6 million customer connections including 6.2 million wireless subscribers, 4.2 million wireline network access lines and 1.2 million Internet subscribers.


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