Suddenlink Doubles VOD Capacity To 20,000 Hours

Suddenlink Communications said it has doubled the capacity of its video-on-demand service -- from 10,000 to 20,000 hours -- in most areas where VOD is available.

The operator now offers more than 8,000 VOD titles, and is working to expand its library substantially by year's end.

Suddenlink said it will complete the VOD upgrade in former NPG Cable systems later this year. Suddenlink closed the $350 million acquisition of NPG, which had about 83,000 subscribers, in April.

In 2008, Suddenlink began the rollout of a centralized VOD network architecture linking 23 Motorola-based markets, based on SeaChange International management software and Motorola VOD servers. In Cisco Systems markets, Suddenlink uses Arris VOD servers.

Suddenlink offers VOD service to more than 78% of subscribers. The MSO expanded the video-on-demand service as part of Project Imagine, a three-year capital investment program that $350 million.

More than one-third of Suddenlink's VOD library is available for no additional charge, with the remainder available for either a per-view charge or monthly subscription.

St. Louis-based Suddenlink serves 1.4 million residential customers and thousands of commercial customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia.