Qwest Plans Internet-Based Video On Demand Service

Press Release - June 4, 2007

America’s third largest telecom operator, Qwest Communications, is in talks with movie studios about making an extensive library of video content available to its broadband internet customers.

The companies are currently discussing the schedule under which Qwest could distribute the videos, according to the telecom carrier’s CEO, Richard Notebaert, in a recent interview. New feature films are generally released in a series of “windows,” beginning with an exclusive launch in movie theaters, then extending to pay-per-view, DVD, and cable TV.

“It’s a question of which window do you use,” Notebaert said, but declined to mention the movie studios involved.

So far, Qwest chosen not to follow in the footsteps of AT&T and Verizon, which are rolling out their own fiber optic TV networks in the hope of competing with cable providers in the video sector. Notebaert says that it is premature for his company to decide on such a network, since many viewers may ultimately choose to shun traditional TV altogether in favour of On-Demand internet video programming.