Coming soon: Download-to-own films

[tdan]

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/TECH/03/23/movie.download/index.html

LONDON, England -- Universal Pictures and the online rental firm Lovefilm are launching what they say is the world's first download-to-own movie service in Britain next month.

Starting with "King Kong" on April 10, the companies say the new service will let people watch the latest movies on their laptops, home computers or hand-held devices while on the move.

Currently, films can be legally downloaded only for a short rental period, but this is the first legitimate means of downloading and owning a movie release, the UK's Press Association reported.

"Download-to-own has the potential to completely revolutionize the way people watch movies," PA quoted Peter Smith, president of Universal Pictures International, as saying.

Films will be available to download the same day the DVD is released. Consumers will get the film in three formats: two digital files available for instant download -- one for a PC or laptop and one for a portable device -- and a DVD copy sent by mail.

Initially, 35 Universal films will be available, including "Pride And Prejudice," "The Bourne Supremacy," "Love Actually," "Nanny McPhee" and "Bridget Jones."

They will be priced from £19.99 ($35) for the latest releases to £9.99 ($17.50) for older films. Downloading a film will take between 40 minutes and an hour.

"The time is only 12-18 months away when you will be able to put the kettle on, get the kids ready and then have a great movie ready to watch," Lovefilm chief executive Mark Livingstone told PA.

Eventually all 6,500 movies in the Universal catalogue could be made available for downloading, PA reported.

The films will be available on the Lovefilm and AOL Web sites. AOL, like CNN, is owned by Time Warner.

New films will be available at midnight on the day of release -- meaning consumers could be watching a DVD on a hand-held device on their train journey to work before stores have opened.

Security measures will make it impossible to e-mail the film to somebody else.

"Consumers are becoming more and more demanding. They want quality products and more accessibility," said Eddie Cunningham, chairman of Universal Pictures UK.

"This service offers instant access and flexibility for consumers to watch films wherever they like."

Universal's research showed that 12- to 18-year-olds in particular are keen to watch films on their laptops or portable devices.

[Treebeard]

I just saw this article also, way too overpriced for success IMO.

[waheed]

No mention of what format the download will be in, what resolution will be used etc...

They will be priced from £19.99 ($35) for the latest releases to £9.99 ($17.50) for older films.

Way TOO EXPENSIVE. I cant see any point in wasting bandwidth when latest DVD releases are priced around £10-£15 and older movies can be purchased for only a few pounds. Bourne Supremacy is selling for only £3.99 on DVD currently at one of my local retailers.

[DeadLink]

The high pricing is probably just in the beginning to pacify the retail trade so they don't feel competition from their own supplier. In the long run they'll lower the price by some of the retailer's profit margin and deal with the consumer directly.

[kicko]

my question is what format is the movie going to be in? and with menus? there is not advantage to this and WAY over priced

[ROF]

This is a good value and a time saver. You get two digital files plus an original DVD mailed to your home. It's a little expensiven but considering the time you'll save on ripping and converting the movie to a format suitable for a portable device or computer hard drive playback the price is pretty good. I just hope the DRM is storng enough to prevent the massive pirating of film files currently being distributed without payment to the rightful owners.

[TBoneit]

Well the USA service that has some download-to-own titles also has some that are rentals etc.. They are from what I saw during the trial period were all WMVs and needed WMP10 with full DRM. And needed a Internet connection for license renewal/checking.

http://www.cinemanow.com/

[RottenFoxBreath]

This is a good value and a time saver. You get two digital files plus an original DVD mailed to your home. It's a little expensiven but considering the time you'll save on ripping and converting the movie to a format suitable for a portable device or computer hard drive playback the price is pretty good. I just hope the DRM is storng enough to prevent the massive pirating of film files currently being distributed without payment to the rightful owners.

its not good value..its like $40 for a movie,new releases can start at about £12 from asda,wait a week or 2 and there even cheaper,hell "war of the worlds" is only a fiver now.and some half assed "digital files",i can guess they wont be high res avis or decent resolution.
and DRM,now thats the big turn off.
dont think thisll be around long.

[ROF]

its not good value..its like $40 for a movie,new releases can start at about £12 from asda.

Where did you read $40? I read £19.99($35) which when you buy a DVD in your normal manner you don't get digital files automatically. For £7.99 more you get convenience of having them all without any necessary time being spent to convert.

I don't know about you but to make two digital copies of a DVD film it would take me a few hours. To download two digital files might take 45 minutes at most. Time is money for me and at $25 an hour(my fee) I'd actually be saving money/time by purchasing these. Plus I'd have the convenience of delivery.

It's definitely a good value, plus you get a DVD copy delivered to your door.

[waheed]

Downloading a film will take between 40 minutes and an hour

Is this for Dail-Up or Broadband. At what speed will it take 40 mins to an hour. No mention of this.

Even for broadband, I can guess that the file size would be small for a quick download (who wants to spend all day or a couple of days in downloading time). Small file size generally means lower reolsution. I very much doubt it will be same resolution as DVD, will be much lower. I guess they may use WMV as they may add the crappy DRM to it.

[thevoelk]

I just hope the DRM is storng enough to prevent the massive pirating of film files currently being distributed without payment to the rightful owners.

Not to mention, if anyone wanted to pirate the film, they wouldn't wait for the official release, they'll check the torrent sites where you can find a release from one of several group days/weeks/months in advance. I doubt there is going to be a lack of DRM, but no matter how strong it is, someone somewhere will find a way around it.

[waheed]

I don't know about you but to make two digital copies of a DVD film it would take me a few hours. To download two digital files might take 45 minutes at most. Time is money for me and at $25 an hour(my fee) I'd actually be saving money/time by purchasing these. Plus I'd have the convenience of delivery.

Hmm, for me, id rather make the digital files myself than spend extra $$$.

Just leave the PC encoding and do something else meantime.

Take your CHOICE:

Spend more $$$ to download digital files WITH DRM (you dont get choice of format, resolution, quality, file size, etc... you simply get what you downloaded)

Make your own at no extra cost WITHOUT DRM (you get all the choices of format, reloution etc...)

Which one would you choose? 8)

[ROF]

Which one would you choose?

That right there is the answer in a nutshell. It's a choice. There are people who visit here, read exhaustive material and guides about converting video files, and still after hours and hours spent pouring over this material they still don't know what to do. For £8.00 more these people don't have to waste those hours and then spend time setting up all the necessary software and then spend more time waiting for encoding to complete, hopefully successfully. All these people have to do is pay a one time fee and they get the files for display on their PC, Laptop, and Portable device, plus they get the DVD copy all delivered right to their door. It's a convenience for some, maybe inconvenience for others, but it's a fair price to charge considering the time saved.

[ROF]

I just hope the DRM is storng enough to prevent the massive pirating of film files currently being distributed without payment to the rightful owners.

Not to mention, if anyone wanted to pirate the film, they wouldn't wait for the official release, they'll check the torrent sites where you can find a release from one of several group days/weeks/months in advance. I doubt there is going to be a lack of DRM, but no matter how strong it is, someone somewhere will find a way around it.

Are you supporting or condoning piracy?

[Paul_G]

The films offered are all old and no way is £20 justified, even for a new film. The only people gullable enough to pay that will be the uninformed.

[Treebeard]

I envision this on opening day:

Universal Pictures: "We now are selling movies for you to download at an outrageous price"

Consumer: "Suck It"

[thevoelk]

No ROF, I'm a realist. I buy all of my movies, but there are people who are going to download from a torrent site the latest DVD Rip, regardless of whether it's available to buy or legally download from a source like this. I don't condone it, but saying it's not happening or won't happen is almost as ridiculous as your question you infered from my statement.

[ROF]

@thevoelk

Those downloads are pretty much useless and in most cases are either not the movie they are labeled to be, contain viruses, or worse. These downloads are also encoded with lossy encoding schemes which in most cases make the movie all but impossible to view and also require extensive reconstruction in order to get a viewable display on a portable device.

For £8.00 more than the purchase of a DVD these same people could get quality video files readily available to be displayed on both your PC and portable players.

It's quite a bargain. You may as well forget the pirates as sooner or later they will be paying excessive fines and hopefully doing jail time for stealing intellectual property. Some of these people will hopefully convert as most of the audio downloaders have to services which actually pay the artists they care to listen to.

[TBoneit]

Here in New Jersey people that were beating the system are now finding out that the system is beating them.

They bought Smokes from out of state or indian reservations to avoid paying NJ's high tax on smokes. Now they are getting hit with big bills from NJ for the unpaid taxes, some I've heard of are $6,600 for example. Hmm... pay slowly over time or face a demand from the tax man for the lump sum within 30 days?

I'm waiting for something of the type to happen to P2P downloaders. Only in this case letters from lawyers saying pay a settlement or come to court, your choice.

That's been happening to those "Free TV" types that bought hardware to aid in watching DirecTv without subscribing.

So yes it can happen, not hard to spot, just look for personal users at a ISP that are sending and receiving data all the time.

[Treebeard]

So yes it can happen, not hard to spot, just look for personal users at a ISP that are sending and receiving data all the time.

Yes b/c that is obvious piracy

How bout people who have media server at home and listen to music from it at work and when they travel? Or private FTP server? Or even hosting their own HTTP? High bandwidth does not always equal illegal activies.

[oldfart13]

"They bought Smokes from out of state or indian reservations to avoid paying NJ's high tax on smokes. Now they are getting hit with big bills from NJ for the unpaid taxes, some I've heard of are $6,600 for example. Hmm... pay slowly over time or face a demand from the tax man for the lump sum within 30 days?"

How is this possible on a non-commercial basis and if the customer pays cash? The reserve here will sell gasoline to anyone going up onto the reserve without taking down your licence plate number or ID. So, how would the gov't get their tax revenue? If it was a business sale, then they might keep accurate records but for individuals...forget it!

"That's been happening to those "Free TV" types that bought hardware to aid in watching DirecTv without subscribing."

That was clear cut piracy and you know it. The new FTA systems can't be used for DTV anyway. The old systems were compromised and that resulted in theft of service. That's what the charge is though many companies that were providing equipment were also charged under tax evasion, copyright and other offences. With the real "Free TV" crowd, so long as no hanky-panky has been done to the receiver at the seller's location it won't be easy to charge the store owners with anything. FTA's are all over the place including our local paper's classified ads section...but then again, so are all those ads for escort services and "discreet massages"....

[classfour]

Maybe someone needs to invent a "DVD Server" and install it at the local WalMart - much like the digital photo processing & printing booths: For $10 - $15 you can burn a movie only (leave the special feature stuff out) Lightscribe DVD-R, Print the disc & insert (Generic - no fancy artwork), and spit out a case, cover & disc for immediate consumer use. Put a gaggle of HDDs in it with the latest releases.....Voila' LOL

BTW: Be certain to observe the DRM stuff, pay the studios their part. It should be easy with the right tracking system.

Actually, I'd rather rent most new releases first: I'm afraid to say it, but most of the newer releases seldom merit more than one viewing. I'd rather dig thru the $5.50 pile at WalMart for an older DVD that I know is worth watching before shelling out over $20 on a new release.

[waheed]

Those downloads are pretty much useless and in most cases are either not the movie they are labeled to be, contain viruses, or worse. These downloads are also encoded with lossy encoding schemes which in most cases make the movie all but impossible to view and also require extensive reconstruction in order to get a viewable display on a portable device.

Most of what you say is true. But the opposite is also true. There are superb quality videos (including true High Definition videos which make even DVD look bad) on many P2P sites. Just stating the facts.

[energy80s]

I have my doubts about this system too. As usual, the music/film industry hasn't a f**king clue about what the public wants and is only concerned about protecting its own ass. If I'm pirating a film or a CD then I take my chances with quality issues, but if I'm paying good sterling, then I want the best quality available - I doubt if this new movie download system will provide that. That's why I wouldn't buy any online music as it is all shite quality. And don't get me started on DRM! Also, how small must the files be if you are able to download them in an hour???

[richdvd]

These prices are insane.
People can download all this stuff for nothing, so it's doubtful many will pay.

[sidewinder]

another point to consider, at a time when BT are going after people for downloading between 100 to 200gig a month saying they have to stop or buy another package how many more of us would be forced into a similar situation downloading these movies.

[TBoneit]

So yes it can happen, not hard to spot, just look for personal users at a ISP that are sending and receiving data all the time.

Yes b/c that is obvious piracy

How bout people who have media server at home and listen to music from it at work and when they travel? Or private FTP server? Or even hosting their own HTTP? High bandwidth does not always equal illegal activies.

My guess would be that if the large amounts of data is flowing around the clock in and out they are using a P2P client not the other. Private FTP would be mostly upload same with hosting their own HTTP. The problem with that scenario is most likely they would be doing it against their termos of service. My old cable modem TOS and my current DSL TOS do not allow my running server(s). If I want to run a server of anykind then I need to go business class and pay much higher rates.

[TBoneit]

"They bought Smokes from out of state or indian reservations to avoid paying NJ's high tax on smokes. Now they are getting hit with big bills from NJ for the unpaid taxes, some I've heard of are $6,600 for example. Hmm... pay slowly over time or face a demand from the tax man for the lump sum within 30 days?"

How is this possible on a non-commercial basis and if the customer pays cash? The reserve here will sell gasoline to anyone going up onto the reserve without taking down your licence plate number or ID. So, how would the gov't get their tax revenue? If it was a business sale, then they might keep accurate records but for individuals...forget it!

"That's been happening to those "Free TV" types that bought hardware to aid in watching DirecTv without subscribing."

That was clear cut piracy and you know it. The new FTA systems can't be used for DTV anyway. The old systems were compromised and that resulted in theft of service. That's what the charge is though many companies that were providing equipment were also charged under tax evasion, copyright and other offences. With the real "Free TV" crowd, so long as no hanky-panky has been done to the receiver at the seller's location it won't be easy to charge the store owners with anything. FTA's are all over the place including our local paper's classified ads section...but then again, so are all those ads for escort services and "discreet massages"....

The smokers that are being caught had them shipped in. If they had gone to the Indian casino in Connecticut to buy then they'd most likely have been OK, But they were lazy and wanted to sace to the max so they bought over the internet and believed the sellers assurances they would not be reported. Then the states got smart and dug up a old federal law that they are using to get the sellers to give up their customer lists.

My understanding of the FTA users is that many of them are using some sort of hack to watch DishNetWork for free. I should mention I do not do it. I pay my $70+ a month for my top 180 package and locals and three IRDs. And thus I'm happy every time they catch some of these pirates. Does that make me a bad person or just human? Right now my understanding is that DirecTv is pretty secure and IDshnetwork has been hacked. There are forums on Yahoo devoted to extracting the video from the DVRs hard drive only or how to install replacement drive for repair or go to a larger drive also. On the hardware forums half the newbies ignore the Welcome that says no piracy talk and start off asking about how do I get my hacked unit fixed.

Same problem as here where they ignore the message at sign up here and start asking questions about downloaded still in the theatre movies. Seems to be that many on the internet want spoonfed answers and don't ask me to read TOS's and abide by them.

[ROF]

The USA is getting the same value added entertainment.

https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?p=1495373#1495373

[yoda313]

People can download all this stuff for nothing, so it's doubtful many will pay.

But look at apple's itunes. Put a little legal fear into peoples minds and they'll start looking for low cost alternatives. And I hate to admit it but I do use Itunes once in ahwile (non-ipod user though). If they can get digital download videos cheap enough it will take off. Once they let you download and burn it yourself than they'll really explode.