The CNC published in the beginning of March an important study on the French video market, with a section on VOD. Here are excerpts[1].

In February 2009, 48 services[2] were available on Internet and/or IPTV and/or game stations, which makes France the European leader of VOD services. According to the data gathered by the CNC and the VOD Observatory, 3.959 films released in theatres were available on the eight main French VOD platforms (CanalPlay, TF1 Vision, Virgin Mega, France Télévisions, Arte, Club Internet and Universciné) at the end of December 2008. The offer rose of 1.206 films (+ 49%) in one year, with a constant perimeter (7 platforms only were studied in 2007 as opposed to 8 in 2008).

The French films represented 43,6% of the offer, the American films 36,5% and the Europeans (non French) 14%. 15,5% of the films available were recent (released theatrically less than 36 months before). 22,7% of the films had reached one million admissions in French theatres, and 63,8% had reached less than 500.000. Out of the 3.959 films available in December 2008, 52,7% (2.087 films) were available on only one platform, 971 on two and 511 on three.

According to the NPA-Gfk barometer, the French pay VOD market was estimated at 53 millions Euros in 2008. It is a rise of 84,2% compared to 2007. The average price per transaction was of €3,81 (in rise of 9,8%). Almost all (99,0%) VOD paying transactions were rentals, and 95,8% of the turnover was made of single-program purchases.

These figures are to compare with that of the DVD rental market, which drops significantly. In 2008, 52% of the French declared having rent at least on DVD in the year. The rate dropped to 44,4% in 2006, 38,7% in 2007 and 30,7% in 2008. It is likely that an important portion of physical rentals was dematerialised into VOD (or piracy).

The revenues generated by the monthly unlimited subscriptions were stable and represented 4,2% of the total VOD receipts, and 16,8% of the transaction volume (respectively 4,3 and 17,1% in 2007). The number of paying transactions on IPTV rose of 76,2% in 2008, whereas those on the Internet rose only of 3,9%.

With 57,6% of the turnover in 2008 (63% in 2007), the films remain the first source of VOD revenue. The American movies share of the total transaction volume is 58,1% (rising of 7,5% since 2007) and that of the French films is  30,3% (down 7,4%).

[1] Click here to download the full study (in French).

[2] Internet websites : 6nema.com, 7 Highlight Street, AB Group, ArteVoD, CanalPlay, Carrefour, Cdiscount, Cinézime, ClicMovies, Dissidenz, Editions Montparnasse, Endemol Europa Film Treasures, Filmo TV, Fnac, France Télévisions (France TVOD), Glowria, Gong, Hartmattan, Iminéo, INA, iTunes Video Store, M6 Vidéo, Matisse Films, Medici TV, Mk2VoD, Rue de la VoD, Rue du Commerce, Télésavoirs, TF1 Vision, Toondra UniversCiné, Vidéo@Volonté, Virgin Mega, Vidéoclic, VoDémotion, Vodéo VoDMania.

Services TVIP : Alice (Virgin Mega, TF1 Vision, Vodéo, Zooloo Kids, TiJi, Jetix, Cartoon Network, Canal J and UniversCiné services), Auchan (CanalPlay service), Bouygues (TF1 Vision service), Darty (Glowria service), Free (CanalPlay, I-concerts, TF1 Vision and M6 Vidéo services), Orange (24/24 Vidéo), SFR Neuf (Glowria, TF1 Vision, Vodéo, National Geographic and UniversCiné services), Numéricâble (Vidéo Club).

Game Stations services : Microsoft MarketPlace via Xbox 360 (Europacorp, WarnerBros. Paramount), CanalPlay via Soy PSP.

Digital Players services : Archos Media Club (Archos Content Portal via Archos 605 wifi), iTunes Video Store (via iPhone and iPod Touch).

After each first broadcast of a program opens a period of one month during which the program is accessible on demand on TV (connected to the set-top box), on PC (by streaming or temporary download limited to 7 days) and on mobile phone. Contrary to other catch-up TV offers, the number of on-demand viewings is unlimited.

The offer is also transportable. It is possible to transfer a program downloaded on demand on three digital players (such as Archos & iPods). As if they were screened on PC, the programs downloaded on mobile players can be watched an unlimited number of times during 7 days as of the initial download.

The on-demand service also offers additional films and series which have not been broadcast but which have a thematic link with the linear program. For instance, if the last episode of a saga is broadcast on the TV service, the previous episodes may be available on demand.

Lastly, a service called "startover" should be launched soon. It will allow to start from the beginning a program which is being broadcast.

It is therefore a new form of TV service, an on-demand and multi-screen service. The catch-up TV services are usually accessory to the main activity of TV channels. On the contrary, Orange Cinéma Séries' linear broadcast seems merely designed to promote the on-demand and transportable services.

Click here for the detailed offer (in French)