NEW YORK - July 1, 2003 /Send2Press Newswire/ -- iN DEMAND, the nation's leading provider of VOD and PPV programming, and the Anime Network, the first cable channel in North America dedicated to anime (Japanese animation), have announced an agreement for the Anime Network to provide content in High-Definition on iN DEMAND's suite of 24-hour linear High-Definition channels, INHD and INHD2. The announcement was made today by Rob Jacobson, Chief Operating Officer, iN DEMAND and Kevin Corcoran, President of Anime Network.

The Anime Network will provide a weekly program that will be exhibited in HD on both INHD and INHD2. The first two titles to debut under the terms of the agreement are "Spriggan" and "You're Under Arrest: The Movie."

The agreement marks a major commitment to High-Definition by iN DEMAND and comes on the heels of iN DEMAND's recent High-Definition agreement with Crown Media and College Sports Television.

"In general, owners of High-Definition television sets and those considering such purchases are very passionate about TV and that passion is about to reach new heights," said Jacobson. "We're pleased to announce this agreement with the Anime Network, recognized globally for its innovative programming. This agreement reinforces our commitment to High-Definition and illustrates the continued momentum of major content providers and distributors to supply High-Definition content."

"High-Definition technology provides a truly incredible viewing experience," said John Ledford, President, CEO and Co-Founder of Anime Network parent company A.D. Vision. "The strong visual textures of Japanese animation are extraordinarily well-served by High-Definition broadcast."

Corcoran of the Anime Network is confident that anime in High-Definition will be eagerly received by anime fans. "We're thrilled to be working with iN DEMAND and INHD," he said. "It's an opportunity to exploit High-Definition technology for the optimal viewing experience it affords our rapidly growing base of passionate viewers."

"INHD has been designed to serve as a destination for a vast array of sports and entertainment content whose visual appeal will be magnified by the High-Definition medium," said Jason Patton, Senior Director, Business Development, iN DEMAND. "Our partnership with the Anime Network helps us achieve this goal."

The INHD suite will feature several hundred hours of movies, professional sports and general interest entertainment programming that maximizes the High-Definition experience. At launch, there will be approximately 12 hours of unique programming daily that will be repeated throughout the day and later in the week.

The content will be available in wide screen, high-resolution format and will also feature Dolby Digital 5.1 audio when available. While the audio is equivalent to most DVD's, the picture quality is superior. iN DEMAND is working with major digital file-server vendors and set-top manufacturers to deliver its High-Definition content in the 1080i format.

According to a recent CTAM survey, digital cable subscribers have the highest unaided awareness of HDTV among multi-channel TV consumers at 79%. Ninety-two percent of adults who have seen HDTV or are broadband users have unaided awareness of the technology. HDTV's picture quality, which is profusely sharper than standard definition TV, is cited by 66% of consumers as the most appealing attribute of HDTV.

The Anime Network(TM), a subsidiary of A. D. Vision, Inc. (parent company to ADV Films and Newtype USA) is the first cable channel in North America dedicated to anime (Japanese animation). The Anime Network launched in North America in late 2002. The network is being marketed to multi-system operators (MSOs) from coast-to-coast as both a stand-alone 24-hour digital network and as a VOD programming offer. For more information, visit www.theanimenetwork.com.

iN DEMAND delivers television premieres of the best movies, championship boxing, mega-event wrestling, professional and college sports, plus original entertainment. iN DEMAND's 60-channel digital lineup also offers MLB Extra Innings, NBA League Pass, NHL Center Ice, ESPN Full Court and NASCAR IN CAR on iN DEMAND. The company's shareholders are Comcast iN DEMAND Holdings, Inc., Cox Communications, Inc. and Time Warner Entertainment -- Advance/Newhouse Partnership. Further information can be found at www.indemand.com.

Source of news: Pryor & Associates for Anime Network
Website: www.theanimenetwork.com