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Hollywood's Download Model: Less Content, Less Versatility, Higher Cost
Movies | Apr 5, 06
So who says the studios are refusing to embrace the web? The Associated Press reports that two Hollywood-backed movie download services have just started selling downloads of major motion pictures. Of course, new releases will go for between $20 and $30, nicely north of many DVDs. And you won't be able to burn that download onto a DVD for playback on your DVR, nor can you play that file on an iPod; portable playback may become available later this year. Want those little extras you've come to expect from DVDs? Better learn to live with less – these downloads are refreshingly special-feature free.
Now the two services in question are Movielink, owned by Universal, Sony, MGM, Time-Warner and Paramount, and CinemaNow, heavily backed by LionsGate. The former is offering the products of its owners plus that of News Corp's 20th Century Fox, while the later is selling films from LionsGate plus Sony and MGM (and neither is selling Disney movies though talks with the Mouse are said to be ongoing. From the restrictions and curtailed content offered by these firms, it seems like the titans of DRM-crazed Tinseltown are almost trying to discourage consumers from looking to the Internet for their cinematic needs. Studio honchos are reportedly concerned that downloads could cut into DVD sales. Remember when they were concerned about DVDs cutting into VHS, and both of these cutting into box office, and now there's Blue-ray and HD-DVD and downloads –oh, my!
It never seems to occur to these folks that their sales might be down because, independent of format or viewing venue, much of their content sucks. Who'd want to steal most of this stuff, anyway? Maybe they ought to consider spending less time worrying about rights, and putting a bit more thought into creating films whose rights are worth protecting.
Posted by jeffrey.trester (Permalink)
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