Mobile/PDA About Us Advertise here


		User name	Password

		Not registered yet? Register here. Lost your password? Click here.

Browse by topic

News

iTunes to sell movies on the DVD release date

1 May 2008 13:48 by Rich "vurbal" Fiscus | 2 comments

Apple has made it clear in recent months that they believe their iTunes online store is capable of taking the lead in online movie downloads in much the same way it practically created the online music market. Now it appears they've taken a significant step in that direction by getting agreements with a number of studios to offer downloads on the same day movies are released on DVD.

Apple 's new deals with 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Lionsgate, Image Entertainment and First Look Studios will allow them to sell movies as much as 45 days earlier than they've been able to in the past, and represents a major departure for the studios.

While this may seem somewhat surprising at first glance, it's not necessarily as shocking if you consider the generally accepted fact that DVD is on its way out. After watching the music industry's failing efforts to prop up the CD market, studios have made it clear that they dont' intend to make the same mistakes. While officially they may still be pinning their hopes on the success of Blu-ray, the faltering U.S. economy would seem to make any predictions of massive growth for that technology less realistic every day.

With their own past efforts to create a viable online distribution system more interesting than successful, turning to a company that's proven both capable of establishing a market and willing to work with content owners seems like a fairly obvious move. At the same time, it doesn't seem like downloaded movies that require new (and unfamiliar) hardware to play will be appealing to the average consumer, who has already shown an unwillingness to part with money for a Blu-ray player.

Permalink to this article | Topics: HDTV Home Theater Online video

Sony web experiment to be released on DVD (23 June 2008)

Disney to stream full movies online for free (10 June 2008)

Apple iTunes U hits the UK (3 June 2008)

Apple expands variable TV show pricing in the UK (25 May 2008)

Panasonic shows off BD-Live Blu-ray payer (6 May 2008)

Apple goes non-exclusive with iPhone in Italy (6 May 2008)

Microsoft denies Blu-ray Xbox 360s, again (5 May 2008)

Independent labels want better iTunes deal (5 May 2008)

PSP outsells all other consoles in Japan for April (4 May 2008)

Samsung revamps Blu-ray home theater setup (2 May 2008)

Paramount to re-issue old Blu-ray titles (1 May 2008)

Carrefour set to launch movie download service (19 April 2008)

Netblender to blend iPod/iPhone with Blu-ray? (10 April 2008)

Warner embraces VOD in UK (4 April 2008)

Apple number one music retailer in the US (3 April 2008)

Starz content now available on iTunes (25 March 2008)

Lionsgate begins offering digital copies with DVDs (10 March 2008)

Apple begins iTunes promotion for movie rental service (23 February 2008)

« Previous news article
Universal unveils audio plans for Blu-ray

Next news article »
AOL, Real and Yahoo! could lose $100m to songwriters

Post your comment

Discuss this article!
mspurloc (Member) 2 May 2008 0:28
This is what I'v been waiting for. No more trips to tiny theaters filled with squawling brats and greasy teenagers. If they get rid of the DRM, they'll have a steady customer. But they won't. [ + quote]
iluvendo (AfterDawn Addict) 2 May 2008 0:39
At what resolution and sound quality (AC-3) ? [ + quote]