Blockbuster WMV downloads

[cactusdr]

Figured I'd buy and download a movie from Blockbuster and burn it to a DVD. It's wasn't until after I paid with the credit card did I find that 1) the only way to download it is with their proprietary Movielink software and 2) the only way to watch the movie is on my PC and the Movielink viewer. It's a WMV and you can't even use Windows Media Player! Frankly, I bought it so I could burn it to a DVD and watch it on my TV. No can do. Anybody know of a way to get around this? I've always towed the line about copyright law, but in this case, I figure at $14.99 I own the damn thing and would very much like to do with it what I want. My bad for learning after the fact.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Sorry not digitally*, the DRM prevents reencoding.
I don't know why people buy from Movielink et al when you can get the DVD for less.

*There are other ways.

[cactusdr]

Thanks Moviegeek. I've downloaded a hell of a lot cheaper and burned them, I just happened to be on the Blockbuster site to see what was new in the stores for rent when I saw the download. Just figured I'd save some gas money (and lazy) and get it then. Just checked their site and they don't have anything about Movielink before the purchase. Live and learn. What's your favorite site for buying movies for download AND burning?? Thanks again.

[freebird73717]

You might look at fairuse4wm

See this thread

Not sure if it will work since you have to use their proprietary player but couldn't hurt to try.

[MOVIEGEEK]

What's your favorite site for buying movies for download AND burning?? Thanks again.

AFAIK no legal website allows that, they only allow playing on a Tivo or a software player.

[jman98]

What's your favorite site for buying movies for download AND burning?? Thanks again.

AFAIK no legal website allows that, they only allow playing on a Tivo or a software player.

As far as I know too. If you were able to burn it at all, you might (gasp!) make free copies for your friends. Hollywood doesn't like that possibility. I'm not criticizing the original poster, but wow that was a high price for what he got.

Anyway, I know nothing about Movielink, but it appears to be based on Silverlight just like Netflix streaming is. Silverlight is fiendishly clever and sends separately encrypted audio and video streams to the player. I don't think even any of the streaming media capture programs have a way to capture Silverlight streams.

[sum_guy]

Try tunebite.com or wm capture which is at www.wmrecorder.com I think wm capture can get any video from any source.

[handyguy]

Connect your computer to your TV

[cactusdr]

Connect your computer to your TV

I want to thank everyone for their replies. I did investigate each of the suggestions given, but I ended up going out and buying a laptop (wanted one anyway) and connected it to my television to watch the movie.

[handyguy]

I don't know why anyone but me never mentions this but pointing a camcorder at your computer screen can record whatever is on it. I wonder how it works these days as in the old days a CRT monitor would flicker like crazy.

[MOVIEGEEK]

I don't know why anyone but me never mentions this but pointing a camcorder at your computer screen can record whatever is on it. I wonder how it works these days as in the old days a CRT monitor would flicker like crazy.

LCD doesn't flicker like CRT but it will still look like crap.
I think buying the DVD/BD and ripping it to your HDD is the best solution.

[greymalkin]

Connect your computer to your TV

I want to thank everyone for their replies. I did investigate each of the suggestions given, but I ended up going out and buying a laptop (wanted one anyway) and connected it to my television to watch the movie.

that's an expensive fix

[joe knight]

Yes you can with soundtaxi, i just did, i've always used soundtaxi for audio and never tried with video but it works as well with video just takes a lot longer to convert since were up to almost a gig of storage. When you open the properties for a DRM file it has a license tab and when a file is converted through soundtaxi what do you know open the properties again and wow the license tab is gone now. It's a $26 one time fee program for use with only one computer but it takes the DRM out of file by converting it so you own the file flat out like the way it should have been through blockbuster, i paid $8 for a download from blockbuster just as much or a little more than what a used DVD would cost at blockbuster and to me i paid for it and i own the F*&^ movie and F%$# the royalties i already paid for it and F*&^ the DRM, anyway i am not in a bad mood and thank god for programs that do take DRM out of files.

[hech54]

Oh great....yet another dirtball spammer.