With this month having already seen the launch of Netflix in Ireland and the shutdown of Megaupload, it’s been a fairly eventful month for on-demand streaming. Here comes an Irish competitor, Volta.
Element Pictures today unveiled Volta, a new Irish video on demand service designed to showcase the best of Irish and international independent films. The service was officially launched by Jimmy Deenihan T.D, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, who was joined by Andrew Lowe and Ed Guiney of Element Pictures and guests, including representatives from the Irish Film Board and the Irish film industry.
Unlike any other video on demand services currently available in Ireland, Volta focuses on Irish films and independent world cinema, with titles to rent from €3.99 and to purchase from €6.99. There are no subscription fees and users can stream or download films in full.
Intriguingly, Volta is also unique in bringing selected films to the site ‘day-and-date’ with their theatrical release (on the same day that they are available in cinemas). New films on the service are otherwise made available at the same time as the DVD release. It is currently the only Irish VOD platform showing The Guard and other Irish highlights include The Secret of Kells, Garage and As If I’m Not There, with more added weekly.
Minister Deenihan, who spoke of the significance of the service for Irish consumers and the Irish film industry, said today: “This unique new service will bring the best of Irish and international independent films to a much wider audience than was previously possible.
Speaking at the launch, Element Pictures’ Andrew Lowe stated: “We are delighted to launch Volta, the first Irish owned Video On Demand service in the Irish market. As an active production, distribution, and, since the re-launch of the Light House cinema in Dublin’s Smithfield, an exhibition company, we are uniquely placed to present and promote the best Irish and international independent cinema in a convenient and cost effective way.
“We are launching Volta now as advances in technology and broadband infrastructure make the service technically viable, changes in the retail sector make it essential to create a space where specialist cinema can be discovered and consumed, and there is an onus on the industry to provide safe and legal alternatives to pirated films. We are very pleased to launch Volta with The Guard available exclusively on our service.”
To browse Volta’s catalogue of films, you can visit the site here. Does the Irish-centric approach of Volta appeal or do you prefer Netflix’s subscription model? Let us know what you think of the service in the comments section below.
