7Digital looking to cash-in on file-sharing deal

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 6 Aug 2008 at 17:56

7Digital is in discussions with ISPs to offer downloadable music to customers as part of their broadband package.

Under the proposals, 7Digital would provide the infrastructure, but customers would purchase MP3 tracks through their ISP with the cost automatically added to the their monthly bill.

Another option reportedly being considered, would be a subscription service in which customers pays their ISP a premium on top of their normal bill to stream and download content.

7Digital has yet to reveal any of the potential costs or limits involved in the service, but says it is currently in talks with the six ISPs that agreed to send warning letters out to suspected file-sharers.

"It's a natural step for ISPs to offer added value services such as music downloads and streaming to their existing customers," says 7digital's CEO Ben Drury. "It will help combat churn and attract new subscribers."