As reported in Multichannel News earlier this week, Charter
Communications Inc. announced that it will deploy nCUBE's video-on-demand gear
in six markets already deploying the service and in one additional market later
this year.
That announcement Tuesday followed last week's news that Charter's primary
VOD supplier, Diva Systems Corp., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with a plan to
sell the bulk of its assets to Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc.
While cablers including Charter are in negotiations to have Gemstar service
the equipment and software for existing systems, their VOD expansion and new
market rollouts are now an open field for other vendors, including nCUBE.
Charter also struck a VOD-server deal in April with Concurrent Computer
Corp.
The Tuesday deal calls for nCUBE to provide Charter with its 'nABLE On-Demand
Management System,' 'nODA' programming-guide-customization software and 'n4' and
enhanced 'n4x' servers.
'This agreement with nCUBE builds on our strategy of working with multiple
vendors while also delivering state-of-the-art entertainment to our customers,'
Charter president and CEO Carl Vogel said.
'We look forward to working with nCUBE as we deliver and grow this exciting
new service that provides a convenient and affordable alternative to
video-rental stores and gives us a strong competitive advantage over satellite
providers,' he added.
Vogel said Charter has already installed and tested nCUBE gear in Birmingham,
Ala.; Fort Worth, Texas; Newtown, Conn.; and Glendale, Long Beach and Pasadena,
Calif. -- markets that run on the Scientific-Atlanta Inc. network platform.
Plans are to launch nCUBE on a Motorola Inc. platform market later this
year.
Meanwhile, Charter has installed and tested Concurrent equipment for
deployment in its Motorola system markets, including Asheville, N.C.; Duluth,
Ga.; Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C.; Hickory, N.C.; Slidell, La.; and St.
Louis.
