France Telecom-Orange rolls out VOD site

FROM VARIETY: Video-streamed content offered free-of-charge

By John Hopewell of Variety -- Video Business, 6/18/2009

JUNE 18 | FROM VARIETY: In a pioneering move, Gallic telco giant France Telecom-Orange is planning to launch a video-on-demand website, to be known as Welles.

Managed at FT-Orange subsid Orange Vallee, Welles — which takes its name from Orson Welles — is skedded to be up-and-running by year-end, said Jean-Louis Constanza, Orange Vallee CEO.

According to Constanza, Welles aims to offer a huge volume of "mid-tail" content — shows that have been around for some years. Although it will carry some high-premium paid-for content, Welles will mostly be ad-driven with video-streamed content offered free-of-charge, Constanza said. Welles will also host consumer-generated content and offer soccer-networking facilities.

Read the full story on Variety.com.

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