Category: DatingonDemand

Dating On Demand Launched In Florida

Posted on June 10, 2008

Datingondemand_logo SUN SENTINEL — June 9 — Cable television provider Comcast is trying to woo crowds of singles to area bars and sign them up for a new dating service, called Dating on Demand, that allows men and women to create free video personal ads that will air in households in South Florida. Singles must first sign a waiver agreeing to release their video and personal information to Comcast, which runs background checks on candidates before airing edited five- to seven-minute profiles, said Comcast spokesman Spero Canton. Dating on Demand is live in 21 U.S. markets, including Atlanta, Chicago and San Francisco.

The full article was originally published at Sun Sentinel, but is no longer available.

Bring Your Dream Date Home, Digitally

Posted on January 4, 2008

Datingondemand_logo SEATTLE PI — Jan 3 — Dating on Demand lets singles record two- to five-minute personal profiles (at home or at a special event) which people can watch Comcast digital cable (or at datingondemand.com). Anyone is eligible to participate, as long as they're a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years of age, have never been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor or been slapped with a restraining order. Surfing profiles is free, but if people want to respond, they have to register on HurryDate.com and pony up a fee ($20 a month). It's still a relatively new service, so there aren't a ton of videos to peruse yet.

The full article was originally published at Seattle PI, but is no longer available.

Mark Brooks: I took a look over Dating on Demand 3 weeks ago while in Silicon Valley and in each of the age categories there were just a couple of profiles. Saddeningly lacking profiles, but this is a great idea. The profiles we saw were entertaining. All the profiles we viewed were taken at parties at which attendees were encouraged to do a video.  I think video dating will take off. We put this to a vote at iDate Barcelona 2007 on the final panel and most of the executives in the audience disagreed. People are too shy to put their video online. Ah well. Webdate still seems to be the best example of a video dating site. (Full Disclosure: Webdate was a client of Courtland Brooks)

Comcast’s on-Demand Service Ranges From Karaoke to Dating

Posted on February 1, 2006

Dating_on_demand THE BALTIMORE SUN — Jan 29 — A Philadelphia nightclub party was where 28-year-old Jessica Scott made her video-dating debut. In front of a camera at the party, sponsored by the cable company Comcast, she was asked about her worst date. Her ideal date. If she had a super power, what would it be and why? Then Scott set up a profile on Comcast's partner in the dating service, hurrydate.com. About a week later, her profile was on television, and the emails started flooding in. Scott found that watching videos of potential dates gave her a true sense of both their looks and personality.

The full article was originally published at Red Orbit, but is no longer available.

Mark Brooks: Webdate offers webcam based dating and encourages users to make their first date a 'webdate.'

Looking for Love (or a Date) on Cable TV

Posted on December 20, 2005

Dating_on_demandTHE WALL STREET JOURNAL — Dec 15 — Dating on Demand, a service being rolled out by Comcast makes it possible for singles to use their remotes to view hundreds of video profiles self-made by singles in their region. Viewers can make contact through one of the online dating sites that work with Comcast on the service, primarily Hurrydate.com.  There is typically no charge for singles or others to post videos, although viewers who want to meet someone they see on Dating on Demand have to sign up for the online dating service. In the case of HurryDate, that costs $19.95 a month. (Singles who post a video profile get a free six-month subscription.)  Currently, only eight of Comcast's systems allow local singles to produce their own Dating on Demand segments, but Comcast executives say more will be added next year.  Comcast today gets most of its videos by hosting singles events.

The full article was originally published at Wall Street Journal, but is no longer available.

Dating Goes to Cable TV

Posted on June 30, 2005

Dating_on_demandCHICAGO TRIBUNE — June 28 –Dating on Demand combines television and online dating. You can either send in a videotape of yourself (which will be edited) to Comcast, or catch Comcast when it is shooting people looking to participate at local events. Within a few weeks, the tape will air on Comcast's On Demand digital cable menu. You can contact a person whose profile is appealing after registering with HurryDate.com.

Comcast’s Dating On Demand:

Posted on April 15, 2005

Dating_on_demandTV PREDICTIONS — Apr 15 — Dating on Demand can be found on Comcast's Video On Demand lineup and permits singles to post two-minute videos explaining what they are looking for in a mate.  If a Comcast viewer likes what he or she sees, they can go to DatingOnDemand.com and send a message. Posting a video is free and includes a six-month membership to DatingonDemand.com and its sister site, HurryDate. The feature is difficult to use, out of date and lacking in willing participants. There were only 32 videos posted on Comcast's system in the Washington, D.C. area as of yesterday.  I have to say that this is the worst execution of a new TV technology feature I've ever seen.  Comcast does not promote Dating on Demand anywhere on the system. If you didn't know it existed, you would never find it. Despite the initial problems, Comcast's Dating on Demand has great potential.  Comcast first needs to give Dating on Demand a total makeover. 

Mark Brooks: Is Hurrydate getting stiffed?