Bermuda Tourism in Deal to Use Cablevision's Promotional VOD and Interactive TV Capabilities

New York-area MSO, Cablevision, announced Tuesday that its Advanced Platform Sales arm has signed a deal with Bermuda Tourism that will see the latter using its iO digital cable platform's VOD and interactive TV capabilities to promote Bermuda as a vacation destination. According to Cablevision, content promoting tourism in Bermuda will be featured on the Voyage.tv and Cablevision Market Showcase VOD services, and the MSO's "Power: 30" interactive TV-enabled spots will also allow Cablevision subscribers to telescope to Bermuda Tourism content.

Starting this month, Cablevision says, a series of original, long-form videos that have been produced by Voyage.tv and that will be available on-demand on the latter service will highlight such Bermuda points of interest as beaches and wildlife. Specifically, the company says, the videos will showcase, among other things, fragrances blended at the Bermuda Perfumery; the ingredients needed to make a "Dark and Stormy"; the origin of Bermuda shorts; and Bermuda's Crystal Caves. "Through our work with Bermuda Tourism, its advertising agency GlobalHue New York, as well as our partner, Voyage.tv, our customers will now have the ability to discover the rich and beautiful history of this island, interact with content on the television and request travel information with the click of the remote control," Barry Frey, EVP of Cablevision Advanced Platform Sales, said in a prepared statement. "We have established a proven track record of success working with a wide variety of leading travel and tourism advertising partners including Aruba Tourism, Disney Parks, Sea World, Israeli Tourism, Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, Lake George and Discovery Cove, and are pleased to add Bermuda Tourism to this prestigious group."

According to Cablevision, Voyage.tv viewers are greeted with an "attractive, easy-to-navigate" home screen that allows them to select from various Bermuda video options. They can also request brochure materials on Bermuda tourism and vacation plans, the company says, using a simple, drop-down menu that features a pre-populated RFI screen.

Voyage.tv (iO channel 608), which launched earlier this year, is one of a range of in-house and third-party niche VOD channels offered by Cablevision: others include Optimum Autos (605), Optimum Homes (606), Health Channel (614) and CNET (607). The company's Advanced Platforms unit has launched interactive VOD channels--offering such features as long- and short-form video, polling and photos--for such brands as Disney Vacations, the US Navy, Dove Chocolate, General Motors, BMW and Sony.