Comcast to help voters with free political VOD information

Filed in archive Video on Demand on October 18, 2006

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One good thing about VOD is that video content does not ever have had to appear on regular television in order to be available. While political discourse is not the normal VOD fare, Comcast is attempting just that; trying to provides viewers with information designed to help them decide whom to vote for in the upcoming elections.


Dubbed "Elections 2006," the new service allow candidates to give what is euphemistically in the business called "long-form" political advertisements, ranging in length from two to thirty minutes. Think of it like an infomercial.

According to Comcast, the service is now available in all of its markets. It is accessed by selecting "Searchlight" from the MSO's VOD menu. All video access is free. (Note to self: I wonder if anyone even attempted to say 'hey, I bet people would PAY to watch Senator So-And-So give a speech!')

According to Comcast, research conducted by Scarborough Data of viewers who had used VOD over the past 30 days showed that 80% were registered to vote, and that 72% generally vote in statewide elections and 45.1% always vote in statewide elections. Let's see if Comcast's service helps them out.