On Command Corp. and Discovery Communications Inc. have reached an
agreement whereby the former will offer Discovery Networks U.S. fare on a
video-on-demand basis in hotel rooms beginning in October.
Under terms of the agreement announced by the parties,
On Command will rotate programming from Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel, Animal Planet
and Travel Channel monthly on its interactive-television systems that reach
some 630,000 guest rooms. All told, On Command services reach
950,000 hotel rooms.
Such titles as Discovery Channel's When Dinosaurs Roamed America and
Air Jaws will be featured on the hotel entertainment purveyor's
short-features offering.
On Command senior vice president of marketing and programming Anne Doris said
the agreement also includes access to fare from Discovery's digital networks,
and her company would be interested in accessing BBC America programming, as
well.
Many of the Discovery Networks titles will be cross-promoted with On Command
VOD theater features.
On Command already offers Home Box Office and A&E
Network programming as part of its short-features platform, according to Doris.
