Spring Break
Corvallis picks up On Demand
Comcast service brings movies, TV shows to viewers by request through cable box, remote
Daniel Acee
Issue date: 5/14/08 Section: News
However, the assistant manager of Hollywood Video on NW 4th St. and NW Harrison Blvd. said he has seen no change in sales or heard of any plans to add features to compete with pay-per-view.
RedBox now offers a service where renters can select a movie online, and it will be held for them at the RedBox until they go to pick it up.
"Most of the movies on there are ones I have already seen," said Tara Vaughn, a senior in human development and family science, and Comcast subscriber. "I use RedBox. It's cheaper; I plan on watching it that night and returning it the next day."
With recent increases in the user choice provided by cable services over the country, questions have arisen among subscribers in Corvallis about cable companies offering individual channel subscriptions.
In an article published by The New York Times, Richard Siklos analyzed the legislative battle over buying individual channels as opposed to the packages that they have to choose from now.
Siklos found that the average consumer was too indecisive to choose individual channels. Offering select programs to be viewed at any time (similar to On Demand) is a way to keep packaged channel subscriptions the mainstream institution.
Stephen B. Burke, the chief operating officer of Comcast, also contends that people are most comfortable paying for subscription services they can rely on at a set price, even if they don't consume every minute or inch of it - whether the subscription is to a cable service or Time magazine, as stated in Siklos' article.
Legislative battles have been ongoing about the topic of selling individual channels for the past few years. It has been between large cable providers, media moguls and concerned consumers.
Although there is no end in sight for a verdict on the situation, with the new features provided by Comcast On Demand, it will give Corvallis subscribers, and cable viewers everywhere, more freedom of choice.
Daniel Acce, senior reporter
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
RedBox now offers a service where renters can select a movie online, and it will be held for them at the RedBox until they go to pick it up.
"Most of the movies on there are ones I have already seen," said Tara Vaughn, a senior in human development and family science, and Comcast subscriber. "I use RedBox. It's cheaper; I plan on watching it that night and returning it the next day."
With recent increases in the user choice provided by cable services over the country, questions have arisen among subscribers in Corvallis about cable companies offering individual channel subscriptions.
In an article published by The New York Times, Richard Siklos analyzed the legislative battle over buying individual channels as opposed to the packages that they have to choose from now.
Siklos found that the average consumer was too indecisive to choose individual channels. Offering select programs to be viewed at any time (similar to On Demand) is a way to keep packaged channel subscriptions the mainstream institution.
Stephen B. Burke, the chief operating officer of Comcast, also contends that people are most comfortable paying for subscription services they can rely on at a set price, even if they don't consume every minute or inch of it - whether the subscription is to a cable service or Time magazine, as stated in Siklos' article.
Legislative battles have been ongoing about the topic of selling individual channels for the past few years. It has been between large cable providers, media moguls and concerned consumers.
Although there is no end in sight for a verdict on the situation, with the new features provided by Comcast On Demand, it will give Corvallis subscribers, and cable viewers everywhere, more freedom of choice.
Daniel Acce, senior reporter
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Be the first to comment on this story
Comments by registered users are approved by default.