08.05.2008 — Can the adult video industry jump-start Vudu? AVN (Adult Video Network), which produces the Adult Entertainment Expo (AEE), is launching a porn channel on Vudu, provider of IP-based video on demand.

It had been said that the porn industry would decide the Blu-ray/HD DVD format wars, but we were all wrong about that. After initially embracing HD DVD, leading adult film makers eventually switched to Blu-ray after that format gained momentum.

Samantha Lewis, president of leading porn producer Digital Playground, said earlier this year at AEE that video on demand sells three times more than optical media.

This year AEE saw its first exhibitor offering CE devices to bring Internet porn to the television. The company, a prominent silicon vendor that provides digital media adapter technology to name-brand CE vendors, was doing business under the code name PCtoTV at AEE. (We also saw video teleconferencing and 3D screens at the show.)

The AVN Channel will offer both standard and high definition rentals and purchases from top adult studios. And if you think that porn stars are timid about being exposed in HD, guess again. We interviewed a bunch of them on the subject. "We don’t necessarily wear more makeup, but we make sure to drink lots of water to keep skin clear," said Digital Playground star Jesse Jane.

Customers interested in accessing this content must sign up online and verify their age before they are able to see the channel on their Vudu box.

And, I mean, who would dare lie about their age?

Once visible on the box, parental controls are required to access the AVN channel and its content.

Vudu sends out a list every week about the top downloads of the period. I wonder ... will AVN content make the cut?