So far quite discreet in the nascent market of video on demand (VOD), the TF1 Group decided to give a kick in the anthill. He partnered with Universal Pictures Video France to launch, on 6 July, a new service called "final download with backup" (TDS). The principle A user may download on the TF1vision.fr site, two same film in the Universal catalog files. The first file will be saved permanently on the hard disk of a PC and can be browsed at will. A second lighter file may be on a video player. Bonus, the user will receive by mail a normal DVD that can be viewed on the TV. All for a price ranging from 9.99 EUR 19.99 euros, modelled on that of a DVD in the trade.
Shorten the time limits
This offer is therefore similar both to the application and the purchase of a physical DVD video. The confusion is voluntarily maintained. Thus, on 10 August, the two partners perform simultaneously the output of the new film "King Kong" on DVD and VOD, as this has been tested in the UK in April 2006. To do this, Universal has delayed the release of the DVD.
Pauline Esdra Grimaldi, General Director of Universal Pictures Video, and Pierre Brossard, CEO of TF1 video, don't hide: they want to revive the debate on the place of VOD in the chronology of the media in France. A debate which stirs up the world of cinema and the providers of Internet access for more than two years. In December 2005, under the leadership of the Ministry of Culture and Communication, the parties had signed an interprofessional agreement placing the VOD window to seven and a half after the release of the film in the room, or a month and a half months after the release of the DVD.
Universal Pictures Video and TF1 have claims to assert. The first is to shorten the time between the release of films in cinemas and on DVD. "At end of may, the DVD market decreased by 12 in value, while the room grew by 15." "There is a problem," says Pauline Esdra Grimaldi. Meanwhile, TF1 video application that distinction in VOD, sale (downloading temporary or definitive) rental (viewing "streaming") and then bring it in line with window sale of a film on the Internet with the DVD.
For them, the time is right. The interprofessional agreement on VOD was signed for a period of one year, and its renegotiation is ongoing. In fact, the launch of the TDS offer comes four days before a meeting of the follow-up Committee of the interprofessional agreement which will take place at the national Centre of cinematography under the aegis of its President, Véronique Cayla. TF1, who had not signed the inter-professional agreement, now seeks to be part of the negotiations.
But Pierre Brossard has also raised another delicate subject. "The market for VOD in France starts well, but he went on the principle of non-exclusivité." However, to stand, different platforms should be able to offer exclusive movies. "This is precisely one of the major concerns expressed by France Telecom with the merger of Canal and GST. Operator fears that the shareholders of the new set, Canal and TF1, take advantage of their positions in the purchase of film and DVD distribution to negotiate with exclusives on the emerging VOD market. This would pre-empt the new entrants.
In total Air France should save 700800 million eurosIt would be an interest to invest more in how to import LNGViolette Retancourt large and indestructibleThe first results are expected in a year or twoThus the Group makes no chip but sells design iBut the situation remains highly variable geographical zone to anotherWay that go on holiday by car is not trivial It is reliable said at the Elysee Palace5 billion euros next year and companies 2Quiksilver has big ambitions for his new protégé
