Ex Libris enters the business with movies on demand
The book, music, film and games seller Ex Libris is entering the ring against giants like Swisscom and Netflix in online streaming. In the future, the Migros subsidiary will offer movies and series on demand with Video on Demand (VOD).
Ex Libris announced on Thursday that customers can use the service without a subscription and pay by credit card, Cumulus vouchers or gift card. Customers can rent or buy films via their Ex Libris account. The offer is supplemented daily by new films and series from America. In the case of TV series, the latest seasons would be available for purchase 48 hours after the first broadcast in the original language. Ex Libris is facing price pressure due to the lower euro exchange rate and ongoing digitization. Last year, sales revenues fell by 10.3 percent to 126.2 million Swiss francs. By comparison, sales in 2010 had still amounted to a good 200 million Swiss francs. In contrast, business with sales via the online store developed positively last year and increased by 7.2 percent compared to 2013. In particular, purchases made with a mobile device increased strongly by 60 percent. With the publication of the annual figures, Ex Libris had already announced that it would implement the next step in its online strategy.
The expansion of online business with video on demand certainly promises growth: According to figures from the Swiss Video Association (SVV), video providers earned 55.2 million Swiss francs last year from the sale and rental of videos over the Internet - that's a fifth more than the year before. However, more and more providers want to get involved in the business of television via the Internet. Swisscom, UPC Cablecom, Netflix and Apple are vying for viewers' favor with on-demand movies and flat-rate offers. (SDA)
On the subject:
Ex Libris to enter video streaming (8.7.2015)
