Netgem’s Vidéo Futur offers new on-demand service

Vidéo Futur, the DVD rental subsidiary of French consumer electronics group Netgem’s Glow Entertainment arm, is launching a new service offering DVD rental and pay-TV on-demand to PCs and TVs via a single pre-paid card.

Vidéo Futur will distribute Galaxy-branded rechargeable pre-paid cards in shops and via its internet site that consumers can use to order videos online or to rent standard and Blu-ray DVDs in the shops. The cards will be available in 50 Vidéo Futur stores by the end of June, the company said.

Viewers will be able to receive VOD streams direct to the TV via Vidéo Futur’s hybrid receivers that will enable them to receive thematic pay-TV services via ADSL as well as over-the-air digital-terrestrial TV services.

Vidéo Futur has hired French actor Thierry Lhermitte to front a campaign to promote the new service.