Movielink to offer download to own on day of DVD release

April 3, 2006

This is a
first for the Internet, the availability of downloads for the DVD on the day of
release. This concept is designed mainly for the early adopter and a well heeled
one at that. You will have to pay between 20 and 30 dollars US for the
privilege.

The
first movie to receive simultaneous DVD and download treatment will be
Brokeback Mountain, available Tuesday at Movielink
(www.movielink.com). Now playing on the service, launched today, are
recent releases King Kong, Memoirs of a Geisha, Pride
& Prejudice, Rent and Harry Potter and the Goblet of
Fire.

"For the first time, consumers have the ability to
not just rent a (downloadable) major motion picture from the major
Hollywood studios but to own them," Movielink CEO Jim Ramo says. Consumers
will pay for the convenience. New films such as Brokeback, King
Kong and Memoirs of a Geisha will cost $20 to $30; older films
such as Jaws, Easy Rider, To Kill a Mockingbird and
The Sting will cost $10 to $16. By comparison, new DVD releases
often are discounted as low as $14.

Jaws? Never mind. Researchers admit, that we are years away from a significant market. However, they
have detected a keen interest from the early adopter. We must admit, that the
convenience is certainly going to be a selling point. According to the article,
the films can be downloaded in about an hour. Unfortunately, they are in the
Windows Media Format, so you will not be able to use them in a DVD player. Which
seems a major sticking point. But, you can burn them to disc for playing in up
to 2 computers. Lovely.

Source: USA Today