This is basically what we’ve been waiting for. An online service that will allow us to download AND burn to DVD movies that we purchase online. I do like the iTunes model of online movie RENTALS (as long as the price is low enough), but the thing we’ve all been buzzing about is the concept of downloading a movie, and being LEGALLY able to burn it to a DVD for viewing on any device we choose.
CinemaNow now offers such a service. THat’s great… but the BEST part of this is that you don’t only get the movie… you also get all the DVD features too! The good folks over at M&C give us this:
CinemaNow customers can choose from more than 100 titles which they can purchase for Burn to DVD. Customers will have the ability to download the complete movie and video in addition to added value elements available with a standard DVD, such as full graphic menus, 5.1 surround sound, special features, language and commentary tracks and all bonus materials available on traditional retail DVDs.
Once the CinemaNow customer downloads the DVD, they can choose to play the file back on their PC using their Windows Media Player and have access to all of the DVD features including full menu functionality. The customer can also choose to burn one copy of the file to a blank DVD+R or DVD-R writable disc using his/her computer’s internal or external DVD writer. While the file is downloading and burning, customers can minimize the application and perform other operations online. Once burned, the DVD can be played in virtually any DVD player with full remote control navigation and access to all of the special features. Prices for DVDs start at $8.99 and include printable DVD label and cover art.
Including cover Art!?!?!?! Wow! This really is exactly what we’ve been looking for. However… before getting too excited I still have 2 very important questions:
1) How many titles will actually be available? Right now there are only about 100. That’s not really much, and they don’t seem to be telling us how many they think they’ll have available in the near future.
2) How much? All it says is that they START at $8.99. You know how that works. One crappy “Wham” t-shirt on the rack that’s selling for $5, and the rest of the shirts selling for $50. But the sign says “Starting at just $5”. So come on… how much for the movies… REALLY?
However you cut it, this a big step in the right direction. If this service can hang around the $10 mark, and the iTunes rentals can hang around the $4 mark, then the age of true legal online movie distribution really is at hand. And that’s a good thing.
