Channel Five is following the lead of Channel 4 by supporting video on demand. Dubbed Five Download, CSI is the main element of the service, whether it be CSI, CSI: New York or CSI: Miami.
Five Download ‘enables you to download each episode in high-quality, reliably and securely to your computer,’ states the company’s website. In fact, what is offered is streaming access, for PC users, which is available for a period of fourteen days.
For example, CSI: Miami, episode 13, is available – by adding it to your shopping basket – from £1.49. That price may seem steep, especially compared with the 99p per episode charged for Lost and Desperate Housewives by Channel 4, or the free simultaneous broadcast of its non-US offerings.
Another selling point of the service, however – at least for die-hard CSI fans – is that it will give early access to new programmes before terrestrial broadcast. Specifically, previously-unseen programmes are priced at £2.49, with all other episodes at £1.49.
‘Five Download is an important part of Five’s digital media strategy,’ said Five’s Chief Executive, Jane Lighting. ‘I’m delighted that we are launching the service with CSI enabling us to offer the highest quality content to viewers with a viewing window which exceeds anything currently in the marketplace.’
The technology underpinning the service is provided by Entriq and BT Media & Broadcast, with Entriq also securing content delivery for the Channel 4 equivalent, which began earlier this summer.
You can read more about Five Download at download.five.tv.
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