CustomFlix (www.customflix.com) is a rapidly growing company that specializes in on-demand DVD publishing. Their "just in time" service produces units as customers order, so there is no inventory needed. This means media makers launch a distribution operation for a fraction of the traditional cost and still have a great deal of control over the process.
Media makers can send a master to CustomFlix, which will set up an account for as little as $49.95. CustomFlix will even author DVD masters from a master tape, although handling DVD masters is obviously easier. Makers can then direct potential customers to an “e-store” from a web site, forums, email, search engines or print materials that can be organized by CustomFlix into a customizable Internet storefront for the title(s). CustomFlix produces units as orders come in and ships the DVDs to customers.
CustomFlix charges $9.95 for sales of between 1-19 units and the fee decreases as sales increase. For example, the fee goes to $7.95 per unit for sales of 20-49 units and to $6.95 for sales of more than 50 units. They then send a profit check with a full accounting of sales at the end of each month.
CustomFlix has also ramped up on an ambitious program of partnering with other, larger content providers, including Walmart.com, Wal-Mart DVD Rentals, Amazon.com Marketplace, Amazon.com Advantage, Netflix, CinemaNow, GreenCine, Froogle and Yahoo!Shopping. An example of this strategy is the CustomFlix partnership with Atom Films. The AtomFilms Custom DVD Store (www.CustomFlix.com/atomfilms) offers more than 125 of the most popular AtomFilms shorts through the CustomFlix Build-Your-Own service. Buyers can choose up to 10 clips or a total of 90 minutes of footage to put onto one DVD. Each video clip can be up to a maximum of 30 minutes in duration. The disc's content and packaging is personalized based on the selected films. DVDs are sold for $19.95. Once a buyer selects the clips for their compilation, CustomFlix produces full-color shelf-ready DVDs on-demand and fulfills directly to the customer.
Editor’s Notes:
As of publication time, Amazon acquire CustomFlix, which obviously brings new possibilities in the realm of DVD on demand.
Several other companies offer the same kind of services as Custom Flix, for example Acutrack (www.acutrack.com) and CineMagnetics (www.cinemagnetics.com). Additionally, Jim Taylor DVD FAQ’s lists many sources in section 5.5 (www.dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html#5.5).
