Vermont Public Television and Comcast partnership yields PBS On Demand

Comcast and Vermont Public Television (VPT) today announced a new partnership that will make PBS programming available to local residents at their convenience through the company’s signature On Demand service. Comcast Digital Cable customers throughout Vermont and New Hampshire’s Upper Valley can now view national PBS shows and episodes of popular PBS series in both standard and high definition at no additional cost anytime they want, with the ability to pause, fast-forward and rewind.
“We’re delighted to add another option for today’s viewers who are looking for programs anytime, anywhere, anyhow,” said John King, President of Vermont Public Television. “While our traditional broadcast service is still the way most people see us, we’re now on multiple platforms, including the Internet, and, through our partnership with Comcast, we can also provide our viewers with convenient access to our content On Demand.”
“We are proud to utilize our On Demand technology and resources to showcase programs and topics of interest to the local communities we serve,” said Pam Mackenzie, Comcast’s Vice President for Vermont. “These popular PBS programs are among the over 17,000 On Demand choices, including more than 3,000 high definition viewing choices, available to our customers to watch anytime they want.”
The newly added PBS shows, which include specials and such popular titles as “Masterpiece,” “Nova,” “Antiques Roadshow” and “Nature,” can be easily accessed from the On Demand menu. For PBS programs in high definition, choose “HD on Demand,” then “History & Nature” and “PBS-VPT,” and for standard definition PBS programs, select “History & Nature” and “PBS-VPT.” Most programs are available for seven days.
The national PBS programming now available On Demand complements a local partnership unveiled in 2008 where Comcast began offering local VPT programs, such as “Vermont This Week,” “Profile,” and “Outdoor Journal,” in the “Get Local” category of the On Demand library throughout the state.
Comcast’s On Demand service continues to be a one-stop destination for local and entertainment programming, with selections available anytime a customer wants to watch them. Comcast’s expanding On Demand library today offers more than 17,000 entertainment programs available each month, the vast majority of which are available for no additional cost to Digital Cable customers. Since 2003, Comcast customers have viewed more than 14 billion On Demand programs nationwide.
For more information about Comcast Digital Cable and On Demand, call 1-800-COMCAST or visit www.comcast.com.
Since entering Vermont in November 2006, Comcast has aggressively expanded its services across the Green Mountain State, investing in its advanced fiber-optic network to bring broadband services to previously unserved homes and businesses and partnering with local communities. The company has launched a number of its advanced services in this time, including Digital Cable with On Demand, High-Definition Television Service, Digital Video Recorders, Comcast High-Speed Internet service, Digital Voice, and the company’s Business Class suite of voice, Internet and cable television services for small and medium-sized businesses. In addition, Comcast has offered programming of special interest to Vermonters. Comcast also assists local non-profit organizations in Vermont with financial, in-kind and employee volunteer support.
About Vermont Public Television
Vermont Public Television (VPT) is Vermont’s statewide public television network and a member station of PBS, the Public Broadcasting Service. VPT educates, informs, entertains and inspires lifelong learning and community engagement through its programs, online services at www.vpt.org and community outreach.
About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is one of the nation’s leading providers of entertainment, information and communication products and services. With 23.6 million cable customers, 15.9 million high-speed Internet customers, and 7.6 million Comcast Digital Voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.
Comcast’s content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, Golf Channel, VERSUS, G4, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One, 11 regional sports networks operated by Comcast Sports Group and Comcast Interactive Media, which develops and operates Comcast’s Internet businesses, including Comcast.net (www.comcast.net). Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, which owns two professional sports teams, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, and a large, multipurpose arena in Philadelphia, the Wachovia Center, and manages other facilities for sporting events, concerts and other events.
Source: VPT. SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT – (February 16, 2010) –
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