Reeltime.tv
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| ReelTime Media Ltd | |
|---|---|
| Type | Public (ASX: RMA), Stock exchange(s): ASX, ASX Classification = Media |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Headquarters |  Melbourne, Australia |
| Key people | Andrew Wilshire (CEO)<br Roland Kulen (CMO) Keith Cohen (CTO) Board of Directors Stephen Johnston Frank Brown Alistair MacKinlay Jim Zavos |
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Products | Downloading Motion Pictures, TV & Video Games. Online DVD, Video Games & CD sales |
| Website | www.reeltime.tv |
ReelTime Infotainment, the main operating subsidiary of ReelTime Media, was placed into the hands of administrators on 11th February, 2008.[1]
ReelTime Media Ltd or ReelTime.tv is an Internet-based video on demand and electronic sell-through (or download to own) provider located in Melbourne, Australia. It was founded in 2005 and went public in April of 2006 with its service launched beta in November 2006, and fully commercial in February 2007. ReelTime offers its services in Australia and New Zealand.
ReelTime is one of two national video on demand operators in Australia, and, is the only operator that offers electronic sell-through of major Hollywood studio content, on the same day and date as its retail store release. ReelTime was one of the first operators in the world to offer such service, prior to Amazon.com or Walmart in the US.
ReelTime.tv offers it service via and is partnered with EzyDVD (see below), Yahoo!7, the local subsidiary owned 50% by Yahoo! and 50% by the Seven network and various Internet Service Providers.
ReelTime.tv is a licensed Australian telecommunications carrier and datacaster, the system that allows transfer of data via DVB-t digital television. It also holds a broadcast license in Singapore.
ReelTime.tv provides a number of movies and television shows in its library, for both download to rent and download to own via electronic sell-through. ReelTime is an ISP independent broadband TV operator offering physical product such as online games and DVD sales for overnight delivery, in addition to legal movie, TV episodes, music and games downloads to purchase or rent from their online store.
ReelTime Media is publicly listed, with Sony holding circa 8% of its issued shares/stock, plus options. As at September 27th 2007, its market capitalisation was some AUD$10m. An agreement was reached in late September 2007 with EzyDVD as part of a wide reaching strategic alliance, with EzyDVD taking a stake in the Company in exchange. An initial stake was purchased for cash by EzyDVD, with additional shares being allocated in 15 steps to EzyDVD as it increases ReelTimes revenues, acquires customers, performs marketing tasks, and reduces the operational cost base - whilst at the same time utilising its Au$100m plus buying power with Hollywood & Independents to get more content deals.
ReelTime also announced its acquisition of XPMediacentre [1] on September 26th 2007 on the ASX. XPMediacentre is a community/forum website focussed on Microsoft Media Centers.
Reeltime.tv should not be confused with Reeltime.com, a Seattle based company which is also offering video on demand and operates the domain www.reeltime.com.
Contents |
[edit] Availability
Content is currently available on a video on demand, electronic sell-through(download to own) and service subscription basis, in which on-demand content is offered for a subscription of between three to twelve months. There are other video on demand companies now offering similar deals, Telstra being one of ReelTime's main competitors.
Other products available include download to own games for PC, as well as physical products such as DVD, CDs and games for popular consoles such as Playstation, Wii etc available via overnight delivery.
ReelTime offers the most diverse range of online entertainment services within Australia and New Zealand, with online DVD rental being the only major exclusion from its services.
[edit] Content
ReelTime.tv contains a collection of feature-length films, shorts, television episodes, and film trailers from genres including Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Animation, Children and Family, Silent Films, Westerns, Foreign Language, Mystery, Romance, Horror, Action/Adventure, Documentary, Educational videos and Comedies. Major studios offered include Sony, MGM, Twentieth Century Fox, NBC Universal amongst others.
[edit] Technology
ReelTime was the first company to offer download to own for a major Hollywood studio (or electronic sell-through) outside of the US on a same day and date basis as retail release. ReelTime.tv delivers using a progressive download system allowing playout within minutes of commencement of download, such that feature length movie and television entertainment are delivered direct to PC, Media Centre, playforsure compatible handhelds and TV via the ReelTime Media Centre. Because ReelTime uses DRM via Microsoft PlaysForSure, it is incompatible with all free operating systems. Customers who obtain media through ReelTime will be restricted in the ways in which they can use that media, even if such uses are otherwise protected under law.
ReelTime has recently announced a technology partnership with Microsoft whereby the ReelTime service will be offered as an integrated service with Windows Vista and on the Xbox 360 via streaming from Windows Vista PCs.
