News
Amazon readying full-length digital movie service
Online retailer Amazon.com reportedly plans to launch a new service this spring to sell downloadable, full-length versions of feature films. Variety reports that Amazon’s new service will likely marry downloads to DVD sales.
Customers could stream a digital version of the film for a fee and then apply that charge as a credit toward the purchase of the DVD. Another plan would let a customer buy a DVD, and while waiting for it to arrive, he could stream it over his computer.
“What they are serving up is a direct companion to the DVD,” explained one senior Hollywood executive. “Everything is being leveraged to sell more DVDs. When you go to a product page on the site, it will say all the variations about how you’d purchase that video—stream, buy or maybe a combination (of options).”
While the service will launch with at least two major studios, Amazon is currently working to convince indie studios, including Image Entertainment, Ardustry Home Entertainment and First Look Entertainment, to provide content.
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1
This is a great idea. I wish iTunes would offer something similar. For instance, I just bought season one of Wonder Showzen (best 15 bucks i ever spent) on iTunes, but it would be nice if I got a discount on the DVD version of the show when it comes out (or if it already is out). Or vice-versa for those who buy the DVD but don’t have the technology to rip it.
Posted by Munkey on January 30, 2006 at 1:29 PM (PDT)
2
Any word about whether the films will be iPod compatible?
Posted by Jason on January 30, 2006 at 1:35 PM (PDT)
3
Of course by the time you finish converting the movie to iPod’s format the DVD will probably arrive in the mail :p
Posted by Chahk on January 30, 2006 at 1:42 PM (PDT)
4
I might look into buying an amazon stock. I think this could go far
Posted by Jonathan Keim on January 30, 2006 at 2:05 PM (PDT)
5
Fan-freaking-tastic!
Posted by Galley in Greenville, SC on January 30, 2006 at 2:41 PM (PDT)
6
This sounds promising.
Apple better get on the ball and start selling movies through iTunes.
Posted by Rene on January 30, 2006 at 3:20 PM (PDT)
7
Lame!
Posted by Talking Madness in Los Angeles on January 30, 2006 at 8:25 PM (PDT)
8
Sounds like a good idea, especially that you can use the download cost for a credit towards the DVD version. However, it probably won’t be going anywhere, depending on the price per download, and how many hollywood studios are going for it. It’s a good model for porn though. You can stream the porn while waiting for the high-res full quality DVD version on the mail.
Posted by Porn? on January 31, 2006 at 1:03 AM (PDT)
9
What we need is a better media pc or something that attaches to the television to play streaming media. It’s a great first step but until we can watch those movies in the familiar setting of our living room it has only come half way.
Posted by Ray-G on February 1, 2006 at 10:48 AM (PDT)