Vubiquity to launch electronic sell-through product

Rob Salter

Video-on-demand aggregator Vubiquity is planning to launch a retail product that will allow consumers to buy digital content, initially movies, in high-street retail outlets in multiple markets.

Vubiquity said it is discussion with multiple retailers in a number of different territories about the plan, which would mark its first move into the retail digital space.

Vubiquity has hired Rob Salter, formerly CEO of home entertainment supply chain specialist Reverbz Media, to head up the new initiative as vice-president of retail. Vubiquity will use Reverbz to provide the physical supply chain for the service in the retail environment, while Vubiquity will provide digital content services, including content licensing, processing for multiplatform viewing, metadata management, and digital distribution.

Vubiquity said the product would enable consumer to purchase digital movies in retail outlets, often weeks before they are available on DVD, Blu-ray or VoD.

“We are delighted to have brought Rob to the Vubiquity team. Together we bring a wealth of retail and supply chain management experience giving the credibility to our customers to help shape and deliver these exciting new retail services. We will provide a range of fully integrated, end-to-end services that are very compelling for retailers, content owners and consumers alike,” said Nick Ruczaj, SVP Commercial EMEA at Vubiquity.

“Vubiquity has the scale and resources to support the digital retail experience that the market has been calling for a response to for the last 12 months. We are excited to be moving into the delivery phase.”

Salter said: “I am thrilled to be working with Vubiquity. We see an excellent opportunity to grow significant business in this channel. Retailers have driven the growth of home entertainment and the building of personal video collections since the first VHS tapes in the mid-1980s. We believe retailers will continue to be a key part of the future of selling video in the digital age. Vubiquity wants to support retailers’ ambitions to go on selling content to their customers in disc form, and also help them go beyond the disc into digital ownership and consumption.”