Japan Portal opens to Internet VOD

Viewers to pay per film to provider

By MARK SCHILLING

TOKYO -- TV Portal Service, a digital TV provider backed by Sony, Sony Communication Network, Matsushita, Sharp, Toshiba and Hitachi, will launch video on demand this September. 

Viewers, who will need a flat panel, Internet-connected TV, will not pay a membership fee but will instead fork out between Y200 ($1.69) and Y300 ($2.54) to their Internet provider to view one of 2,000 or so titles on offer.

TV Portal Service was launched in July 2006. It started its AcTVila portal site in February, beginning with basic lifestyle info services.