AT&T, Akimbo To Offer VOD Over DSL
By Shane C. Buettner April 28, 2006 — The battle of the TV telcos has barely just begun and we're starting to see the telecommunications giants jockey for position. As a prelude to an offering that will eventually compete with Verizon's FiOS TV service, AT&T and will this summer rollout a "triple play" offering of voice, video and data called Homezone. The service will combine Yahoo High Speed Internet, DISH Network TV via satellite for live TV, and broadband on-demand offerings from Akimbo and Movielink.

AT&T is also working on a major high-speed network rollout aimed at offering IPTV (Internet Protocol TV) services over a fiber optic network, but the Homezone offering will rollout in 13 states this summer. Homezone subscribers will be given a set-top box to access the Akimbo services, including the on-screen guide, and will also be able to access the Akimbo guide from any Internet-connected computer and select programs for download. So, subscribers will be able to kick off a download while sitting at work, and watch it upon returning home.

Akimbo offers thousands of shows and movies of all types through its service and recently began offering some HD content through its relationship with Mark Cuban's HDNet. Akimbo also recently struck a deal that has its service bundled with and playable through Windows Media Center Edition PCs.

Interestingly, in some respects the Akimbo service actually competes with DISH Network. While many of its programs are available on-demand with customers charged for "viewing periods" that can last anywhere from several days to 30 days, it also offers monthly subscriptions to channels that are typically offered via satellite such as A&E, Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, CNN and more.