MGM, Rogers in VOD deal

Co. gets 25 pics with more to come

By BRENDAN KELLY

Bishop

MONTREAL -- MGM Home Entertainment has packed with Rogers Cable, Canada's largest cable operator, to showcase pics on Rogers' video-on-demand service in the first such deal between a Hollywood studio and Canuck cable operator.

Rogers will have some 25 MGM pics, increasing in the coming months with the addition of current and catalog titles.

Pics included in the deal are "Barbershop," "Crocodile Hunter," "24 Hour Party People" and "Killing Me Softly." Rogers has 400 pics on its VOD service right now.

"MGM is very pleased to embark on this venture with Rogers," said David Bishop, president of MGM Home Entertainment. "Their market leadership in Canada will allow us to pursue our objectives for maximizing revenue from new releases, while also deriving incremental value from our unparalleled modern film library."

Rogers' VOD service is available only to customers in central Toronto, with other areas in Toronto set to be added over the year.

Distributors that have already signed up with Rogers for video-on-demand include Lions Gate, CBC, Corus Entertainment and TVA, as well as Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution, which reps Miramax, New Line and Artisan Films in Canada.