DirecTV Sets On-Demand Movie Channel Debut

DirecTV  this Friday will launch foreign-film on demand network Eurocinema as part of its DirecTV-on-demand platform.

The distribution deal puts the Eurocinema on demand service, which features contemporary and classic foreign movie titles as well as prize winners at worldwide festivals, in front of some 20 million cable and satellite subscribers, according to the service.

Some of the titles set to launch on Eurocinema include German-based Summer ’04, Le Petit Lieutenant from France and Under The Moonlight from Iran.

The satellite service launched its on-demand service in June, offering customers more than 4,000 standard-definition and HDTV titles.

“We’re delighted to launch on the DirecTV-on-Demand platform, which offers its millions of  customers access to more than 4,000 on demand titles,” said Sebastien Perioche, chairman and CEO of EuroMedia Holdings Corp., the parent of Eurocinema in a statement. “Thanks to mainstream industry and consumer recognition of their quality, as well as the tremendous surge in immigrant communities across the country, foreign films are enjoying a renaissance in the U.S.  This launch provides an ideal platform to reach these communities by greatly expanding our brand beyond the realm of cable television.”

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.