Rovi partners with Sainsbury’s for digital video

VIDEO CODEC FIRM Rovi has announced that British supermarket chain Sainsbury's has licensed it to offer a digital video service that's expected to launch later this year.

The new service is part of Sainsbury's Entertainment and will offer video on demand and digital copies of major studio film and television titles through the Rovi Entertainment Store, including new releases on the same day they are available on DVD and Blu-ray Disc.

The service initially will be available online at Sainsbury's Entertainment but will then expand to offer access through internet connected devices such as Smart TVs, Blu-ray disc players, smartphones and gaming consoles.

Rovi said the agreement with Sainsbury's is important for the firm as it continues to expand its presence in international markets.

"Sainsbury's is an ideal company to collaborate with as they have the marketing acumen as well as the consumer reach and loyalty needed to be successful and help introduce new consumers to the convenience, quality, and flexibility of online video entertainment," Rovi's SVP of Sales David Cook said in a statement.

Last month, Rovi announced an agreement with Panasonic that saw its Divx Plus Streaming video technology integrated into the Uniphier series of television and Blu-ray disc integrated circuit (IC) devices. µ