Multicom to Launch Internet VOD Channels with Gbox

LOS ANGELES: Multicom Entertainment Group has struck up a partnership with the online video platform Gbox to launch a series of Internet VOD channels.

The channels will feature Multicom's collections of classic films, TV shows and documentaries, delivering the content directly to consumers via the Internet using the functionality of Gbox's self-service platform. A beta version of Multicom's first channel, BabyBoom.tv, launched on January 19.

Dirk Lueth, Gbox's founder and CEO, said, "While there are a number of VOD platforms for content owners, we believe that none of the solutions fully meet the needs of today's marketplace. Digital content libraries are locked into closed ecosystems which force content owners to follow strict rules on how they can present their content. At Gbox, we believe in providing complete flexibility when it comes to film promotion which includes supporting the full range of pricing models, including pay-per-view, subscriptions, fundraising, and even micro-transactions."

Lueth added, "This is exactly why we built the Gbox platform: We want to empower content owners to find out how they can serve their audience the best way possible, and make decisions based upon data and results. Although this partnership with Multicom may be the first of its kind in the broadcast quality film industry, we believe that this is just the beginning, and we are excited about the potential."

Darrin Holender, Multicom's president, commented, "My father Irv Holender has seen many transitions in his almost 50 years in the industry, but this one is moving very fast for indies and studios alike."

Holender continued, "The bottom line is there are, and will be, people who are willing to pay monthly or on an a la carte basis, whether they're a 'cord cutter' or a 'cord never,' and Gbox gives us the ability to be there on all devices worldwide to serve audiences who want video content.

"Multicom has built up a very unique library of broadcast-quality content which serves many different interests, and we have waited patiently for the market to develop a solution which helps companies like ours reach the consumer directly, and, until we found Gbox, were never completely satisfied by what was being offered. In only a few weeks we were able to get our first channel up with GBox, and it is operable on all Internet-connected devices. We are very excited about this partnership."