Anime Video On Demand

[EricTheFred]

I looked and didn't find a thread specifically discussing this issue.

After Netflix and direct purchases, my main access to Anime is Video On Demand service (in my case, Comcast in Texas, this means the VOD version of Anime Network, the VOD version of Adult Swim, and Select On Demand. All of these are "free", meaning I get them with my digital cable subscription plus typically at least one commercial inserted in the beginning, middle, or end of the show.)

My number one gripe with these has to be the speed at which they are rotating shows. Adult Swim is horrendous. They put in a few episodes of a series, and then stop adding. After a month or so, the few episodes begin disappearing again, with no more updates. At best, this ends up being a way to get me to put a series into my Netflix queue.

Anime Network VOD used to be very good. That ended abruptly when they disappeared entirely from Comcast. Then, a badly watered down version showed up (with possible a fifth as many shows.) And they started occasionally selling VOD 24 hour rentals.

Select On Demand was GREAT until Anime Network did the retreat I just described. Then it turned into a slightly broader version of the description I gave of Adult Swim.

In short, the idea is there, but the implementation is sorely lacking. Anybody else have an opinion about this? What is needed for VOD to be acceptable?