Comcast Reaches Indie VOD-Movie Deal

Independent-film-distribution company Palm Pictures has inked a video-on-demand carriage agreement with Comcast Corp., the company announced Thursday.

Palm, through its Palm Pictures VOD virtual on-demand channel, will offer innovative feature films, documentaries and film shorts free-of-charge to Comcast as part of the MSO’s on-demand-movie service, according to representatives of both companies.

The deal also features an interactive element: Subscribers can vote via Palm’s Web site (www.palmvod.com) to determine whether new American and international feature films will potentially receive U.S. theatrical and DVD release.

“Palm Pictures VOD provides us with a great opportunity to expose a broad national audience to our library of critically acclaimed and award-winning films,” Palm head of video Sal Scamardo said in a prepared statement.

“Our agreement with Comcast, the industry’s VOD leader, also creates an important and innovative platform for emerging filmmakers to introduce their work to millions of film enthusiasts,” he added.

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.