Akimbo Systems today announced that its Internet video-on-demand service will be available next week in beta release for Windows XP and Vista-based PCs. Users will be able to download Akimbo to access thousands of videos for viewing on their PCs. The service was previously available through set-top boxes. The Service will let users bypass the monthly Akimbo subscription fee and instead pay per video download for programming.

The company has not announced a Mac version of the application.

“Making Akimbo available on the PC is an important step toward delivering our award-winning Internet VOD service wherever consumers prefer to receive it,” said Akimbo President and Chief Executive Officer Thomas F. Frank. “Although Akimbo is widely available on TV through the RCA Akimbo Player set-top box and through the AT&T Homezone entertainment service, it’s very significant that consumers now have the option to enjoy their favorite videos in full TV-quality on any Windows PC.” 

The Akimbo Service offers a growing collection of high-quality video, including popular TV networks alongside specialty outlets like The Horror Channel, a broadband venue for horror, terror and suspense programming, as well as here!, America’s premium gay television network. Akimbo offers a diverse array of video for indie movie buffs and animation fans. For sports fans, the service offers full-length Stanley Cup Playoffs, classic games and weekly highlights from the National Hockey League, as well as an assortment of extreme sports and outdoor sports programming.

Later this year, Akimbo plans to offer the option to burn Akimbo videos onto recordable DVDs that play on standard DVD players as well as PCs, which will be enabled using Sonic DVD On Demand technology.