Movielink to allow movie transfers to DVDs?

Have you been shunning Movielink because you don't feel like watching all your movies on your PC screen? If so, you're obviously not alone. The missed business is making the online film distributor re-think their insistence on refusing burnability in their downloads; it's been discovered that software technology from Sonic Solutions has been purchased to presumably allow for the DRM-infested files to be burned to DVDs somehow playable in any off-the-shelf DVD player. This approach could get real sticky: how does it keep DRM implemented on native DVDs, how does it stop dupes from showing up everywhere, and at this point, will anyone even pay attention? It's already known that studios are already finding alternate ways to get their films to viewers over the 'net: Warner Bros. and Sony Pictures have already inked deals with Guba in hopes of making downloads feel a bit less restrictive. Whether this (supposed) change will be enough to revitalize Movielink remains to be seen; the bigger question, however, is whether there's actually that big of a pent up demand for a DVD download-and-burn service.

[Via Digital Lifestyles]

[serkan @ Jul 17th 2006 8:41PM]

they should just use a rootkit

[Wes Felter @ Jul 17th 2006 9:20PM]

One would guess that the burned DVDs contain ARCCOS-like corruption that confuses DVD Shrink but is no trouble for actual DVD players.

[falcom @ Jul 17th 2006 9:24PM]

the only real viable business for downloadable movies is cable/sat. ondemand type pay per view service. or possibly a subscription based on that technology. like X number of premium movies per month, and unlimited basic movies or something like that

[Matt @ Jul 17th 2006 9:41PM]

GreenCine has Had Burn to Own and Burn to Rent Movies for a long time playable on DivX Certifed DVD palyers.

Sonic and Hollywood are just playing catch up.

http://www.greencine.com/divxRelease?content=4

[Jeff @ Jul 17th 2006 10:44PM]

All I know is this announcement is driving down my Netflix stock, even though NOBODY CARES about Movielink or their goddamn DRM-encrusted burnable DVD's of the 100 crappy movies that they carry.

Goddamn stupid investors.

Well, it'll even out once Netflix has their earnings call and people realize that's where the action is again. Movielink was DOA and they've been on CPR ever since.

[Jona @ Jul 17th 2006 11:32PM]

I agree with falcom. I'd also like to see them trying harder to get into living rooms via existing devices: iPod plugged into TV, Xbox360/Ps3/Wii streaming?

Oh, and bring it to Australia. We dont have anything like it yet.

[Jeffrey M Foster @ Jul 18th 2006 2:00AM]

meh.

[Ian @ Jul 18th 2006 3:31AM]

Wow. So I can download their sub-vhs quality movies, which are poorly ripped (hello, inverse telecine, look it up) and burn them to DVD. Awesome.

[Wonderboy @ Jul 18th 2006 8:31AM]

Skeptical, but slightly hopeful, I just visited the Movieling website... They have a few free downloads, movie trailers and behind the scene stuff to let you see how the service works. Getting more excited I clicked on the King Kong HD Trailer, expecting... well... High Def like it says. The actual trailer was horribly pixelated, no way I could sit through an entire movie without being completely annoyed.

Of course, then I looked at the file size for some of the movies... less than a gig. I was hoping Ian was wrong about the sub-vhs quality... he wasn't.

Too bad, cause I've got my pc hooked up to a 720p HDTV... so a quality download service would be great.

[Andrew @ Jul 18th 2006 8:36AM]

Sometimes high tech is not the best answer. I have Netflix, which works beautifully for a fairly low price. Granted, their supply chain has loads of technology to make processing so darn fast, but they use the often forgotten US Postal Service for distribution. My good friend has Comcast on Demand but wants to sign up for Netflix so she can have more control (read: so she can get movies she actually wants to watch).

[Brandon White @ Jul 18th 2006 9:47AM]

Maybe I'm missing something here...Netflix (and Blockbuster Online, etc) is in the burn-and-return business. Movielink is utterly irrelevant; I mean even if they had every movie, TV episode, everything available, the cost factor will never catch up to their mailing counterparts. Anybody geeky enough to know how do download and burn a Movielink file is already renting and copying DVDs anyway. And BTW, those who whine about DRM, you aren't trying very hard. AnyDVD (movies) and the analog hole (music) silence that discussion very quickly.

[dc @ Jul 18th 2006 10:14AM]

In the Denver area (and several other markets around the country), you can rent DVDs at Red Box DVD Rental kiosks outside of any McDonald's. It's convenient as you can rent at one store and return them to any other location. It's mostly new releases but there's a pretty good selection and it's only a $1 a night. I prefer this to Movielink or Netflix as I'm not locked into any monthly subscription fees and I can watch them on my HD projector, etc. There are codes you can find online so I get a free rental or two every week.