European and U.S. companies combine for video-on-demand sales

Video content aggregator MC&C and digital entertainment company DivX Inc. have partnered to create a new e-commerce site, ClicMovies.net, which will offer video-on-demand film downloads. More than 1,700 titles will be available when the site launches; a date has yet to be determined.

Geneva, Switzerland-based MC&C entered into the agreement to take advantage of the DivX proprietary digital video technology. The DivX media format compresses extensive video content into small video computer files while preserving relatively high visual quality. It is one among several digital video technologies used to rip audio and video multimedia content and transfer it to computers, CDs and DVDs, while securing the content in a way that prevents duplication.

Video-on-demand has begun growing; the Internet retailing industry is at the very beginning of a new trend that is spreading worldwide, predicts Cedric N. Piaget, co-founder and CEO of MC&C.

All film downloads will be compatible with more than 1,800 models of DivX certified consumer electronics devices from numerous hardware manufacturers. More than 46 million DivX certified consumer electronics devices have been shipped worldwide, according to the San Diego-based company, including more than 10 million devices during the second quarter of 2006.