Ninemsn, HomeScreen partner in online DVD rental push
THE as yet small online DVD rental market in Australia is set for some growth following the announcement of a content distribution deal between home entertainment company HomeScreen Entertainment and ninemsn.
The deal will see HomeScreen become the DVD rental service for www.ninemsn.com.au
The move means Ninemsn users will now have access to a online DVD rental service, which provides personalised subscription entertainment service.
For HomeScreen the deal gives it access to the more than six million unique visitors who go to the site each month.
HomeScreen Entertainment-founded by a group of ex-Yahoo Australasia execs including former MD Tony Faure—offers subscribers access to more than 7000 DVD titles for a monthly subscription fee, with no late fees.
Subscribers create the list of DVDs they want to see and then receive and return them by mail.
Ninemsn CE Martin Hoffman said online DVD rental was one of the fastest growing segments in the entertainment market.
“By offering the HomeScreen service directly, we'll bring more value to our customers."
HomeScreen is hoping to replicate some of the success the online rental market is experiencing in the US. The market leader there, NetFlix, has around 1.3 million customers and generates quarterly revenue of $US72.2m.
