HP bags Sony for on-demand DVDs

 

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By Simon Aughton

Posted on 28 Jan 2008 at 12:16

HP has secured the first big-name provider for the DVD-on-demand service that it launched a year ago.

Sony Pictures has announced that it will license select catalogue titles to be burnt on-demand at local video stores, making it the first major Hollywood studio sign up to the service.

"HP's manufactured-on-demand service provides us with a viable means of delivering a broader range of niche and library product to consumers," says David Bishop, president, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. "We know there is strong consumer demand for these titles, and by working with HP we can monetise our deep product library and help give retailers the means to bring a wider offering of Sony Pictures product to consumers without a significant investment in inventory."

The service enables video stores to download a movie and burn a single copy to DVD. Since studios, distributors and the stores themselves do not have to carry inventory, it minimises the cost of making obscure and niche content available.

Sony has not yet revealed what titles it plans to release though the service.