Apple finally takes the UK out to the movies (Canada too)
by Thomas Ricker 
posted Jun 4th 2008 at 5:15AM
Update: Nope, after digging around the store it's clear that an Apple TV is still required for HD rentals. Picture proof after the break.
Update 2: The Canadian iTunes store is sporting films now as well. Come on Apple, Canada's not worthy of a press release? What's that aboot?
Update 3: Canadian press release now oot -- 1,200 films (not 700 in UK) now available for rent or purchase.
[Thanks, Nate and Zayn K.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Christian @ Jun 4th 2008 5:26AM
Finally a legal alternative to Bittorrent. About time!
YetiJames @ Jun 4th 2008 6:35AM
At those prices!!! like many others i would rather go pay for a dvd from play.com.
Anyone know if its possible to rent from the US itunes ? would be more reasonable price
fanman @ Jun 4th 2008 7:02AM
When will these idiots learn that one dollar does not equal one pound?
r3loaded @ Jun 4th 2008 8:57AM
@fanman
They never will. Our job as Britons is to bend over for companies and pay double what Americans (among others) pay. Look at fuel prices, £1.15 for a litre is simply ridiculous.
Fishy @ Jun 4th 2008 10:22AM
it's a dollar more in CAN$ than US$. since the US$ is on par with CAN$, I'll continue to rent from the US store....and yes @YetiJames, I've had my US account for over 2 years now, no problems. Just get a US iTunes gift card and you're good to go - ebay
fanman @ Jun 4th 2008 10:37AM
@r3loaded
Yeah, but at least with petrol it's our government screwing us over. -.-
aaronbareford @ Jun 4th 2008 5:28AM
YES!!!
The apple tv is now looking like a good option, HD rentals :D About time :D
w000000000000t!!!!!
Cyberthato @ Jun 4th 2008 5:36AM
Does this mean an AppleTV price drop? I mean, they did drop it in the US when rentals arrived...
kccboy2004 @ Jun 4th 2008 6:44AM
I have got a question:
Do you think that the negative campaigning that Apple does in the media against Windows, together with the fact that Windows is upstanding in not retorting, contribute to our dislike of fan-boys ?
We don't really like people slamming other people, especially if the injured party does not fight back.
I really dislike Apple and seek out every opportunity, rational and irrational to put the organisation down. But, I feel that increasingly it is becoming an obsession.
But it is fun.
aaronbareford @ Jun 4th 2008 6:52AM
@kccboy2004
Being a fan of a brand or product isn't a bad thing, and debating about which is better can be fun :)
But...
You always get the ones who go too far :)
iEye @ Jun 4th 2008 7:04AM
:-x
THT @ Jun 4th 2008 5:33AM
Finally! The rental prices are close enough to the US but what's up with £11 to buy a film? Rather buy the dvd if it's a film I want, otherwise really surprisingly good price for rentals (seeing as it's apple)
Olivier @ Jun 4th 2008 5:36AM
yeah! and only at 190% of the US prices too!
shaun @ Jun 4th 2008 5:36AM
Those prices aren't that bad considering the deal we normally get in the UK. I'll definitely be getting some rentals, possibly an Apple TV depending on how much money I earn on my holiday job.
Virgin Media set top boxes here do rentals too, and their prices are very similar, although I think that new releases and HD are 25p more.
Overall I'm chuffed to bits
melvyn @ Jun 4th 2008 5:41AM
At-Freakin-last!
Alex @ Jun 4th 2008 5:40AM
Take your time, Apple!
Thank the Heavens!
But seriously? £10.99 for a non-physical movie? Theyre usually less than that from play.com with a disc.(I think I'm one of the ony people who still actually likes to SEE what they pay for)
How much are movies from the US iTunes? $10.99? That's about £5.50. I know that songs of US iTunes are79 cents, which equates to about 40 pence, when we're paying 79p -- Double what the US is...
Alex @ Jun 4th 2008 5:44AM
Just checked the iTunes Store, and it looks like I'll be waiting for any good films to come out...School of Rock is in the 'Top Comedy' section. That can't be good news for anyone.
NIck @ Jun 4th 2008 6:59AM
What BS prices.
From Play.com:
School Of Rock DVD
£5.99 Free Delivery
maff @ Jun 4th 2008 8:00AM
too true, Nick and you can get School Of Rock / Orange County / Without A Paddle Box Set (3 Discs) for £6.83 via PlayTrade on the same site, for anyone that's interested!?
Derry Quinn @ Jun 4th 2008 12:52PM
Actually americans pay 99c=51p they are 99 eurocent in europe too, 78.2p
And the america/europe rate? 99c=64eurocent
Sometimes I hate being Irish.
Kim K @ Jun 4th 2008 5:41AM
Yay yay yay!
King Mook Mook @ Jun 4th 2008 5:59AM
How about Australia?
Jakob Henner @ Jun 4th 2008 6:01AM
Good question now the three biggest markets in Europe have movie renting, next following is probably: Italy, Spain, Scandinavia, Netherlands etc.
At that time Apple TV will be alot more exciting.
Jonny @ Jun 4th 2008 5:54AM
More than a DVD?
No thanks.
howard.scott @ Jun 4th 2008 5:53AM
I just hope they really are HD without Apple TV - the device is simply too limited (I had one and sold it!). HD over iTunes on my HTPC - that would be good news!
Kim K @ Jun 4th 2008 6:01AM
Nah, the page for I Am Legend still says "This movie is available in HD on Apple TV".
bobjenkins @ Jun 4th 2008 5:59AM
"This movie is available in HD on Apple TV"
Rich @ Jun 4th 2008 6:04AM
Wow, that's some rip-off pricing.
Shouldn't digital downloads be CHEAPER than their physical equivalents?
nh @ Jun 4th 2008 11:19AM
They just don't get it.
It's not like milk where you have to pay to get it delivered, but that's the model they're using.
It's digital and it costs them jack shit. All your money goes on licensing, profits and technology. Please don't pretend that costs more for a download than for a DVD.
Steven Haskayne @ Jun 4th 2008 6:12AM
Erm HD only on apple TV which is a shame... However aboot freekin time we got movies (films) here in the UK. I for one think that the £6.99 is a reasonable price if im being honest. £10.99, perhaps a little steep as why should a new release consitiute a 40% mark-up?
Anyway, i wish i didnt just splash out on my ps3, i would have bought an Apple TV instead.....at least GTAIV will keep me sane.
Anyone know how to get macs to stream through their PS3???
aaronbareford @ Jun 4th 2008 6:36AM
There a piece of software called MediaLink :) I think it costs about £15 :) Work's very well :)
Streams iTunes, iPhoto and whatever folders you pick :)
Richy @ Jun 4th 2008 6:14AM
Blimey, the movie studios have again axcelled themselves on the outrageous prices they charge. I think I'll stick with my iTunes US account for my Apple TV. Even with the 'eBay iTunes Gift Card tax', it's cheaper.
The movie studios deserve BitTorrent at these prices...
Tim @ Jun 4th 2008 7:09AM
Hey, what do you mean by that, are you getting US iTunes in the UK in some smart way I'd like to know more about?
Pray tell!
I, ignorant fool, am not aware of that trick yet...
Ryan Trevisol @ Jun 4th 2008 9:16AM
He gave the hint in his post with the "ebay tax". He buys US iTunes cards on ebay and has them shipped to him in the UK. I'm assuming that's all you need to shop the US store.
Richy @ Jun 4th 2008 9:46AM
It's not too tricky. You need to go to s ite like this:
http://www.winandmac.com/tips/free-itunes-account-no-matter-where-you-live/
To get a code to 'redeem' a iTMS US account without needing a US payment card. You'll also need a genuine ZIP code. I used the one from Apple's NY store ;-)
Once your account is set up, buy a US iTunes gift card from eBay. The 'tax' will mean a $15 card costs about $18-19 -- still cheaper than using the UK iTMS! Nothing physical has to be shipped, you'll just be emailed the voucher number (depending on the vendor, this will take a few minutes to a few hours). Redeem this via iTMS, and you're done.
You can have both accounts sort of live on your Mac (or PC, I guess), and music purchased from both work just fine on my iPod. It's a bit more tricky swapping stores from the A-TV -- but I only 'buy' rentals and the occaisional missed episode of Ugly Betty for the missus, so not really an issue. The only snag is that the TV Shows will be for US channels (so no BBC) -- but you can still buy on your Mac and sync to your A-TV.
Go for it, and good luck!
toxicpiano @ Jun 4th 2008 6:24AM
Finally. Except for the cost and the fact that HD films are only available on ATV. I suppose the rental prices are decent.
JS @ Jun 4th 2008 6:25AM
Rip off prices... VAT is 17.5%... quick maths USD $3.99 for renting a HD flick, that's GBP £2.033 plus VAT is GBP £2.388775, so let's call it £2.40... They charge £4.49 - Where the hell is that extra £2.09 going...!?
Rip off!
For £2.49 per HD flick, I'd rush out to get the big Apple TV and a 42" screen - today... but right now I'll try to stand up straight and not bend over at all.
drawingbreath @ Jun 6th 2008 5:28PM
Couldn't agree more. I too would fork out for an ATV if the rental prices were closer to reality. Well done Apple. You've missed a trick in the UK market again.
Typed on a new Macbook.
AMc @ Jun 4th 2008 6:27AM
Selected at random from the iTunes Store main links...
Batman Begins - Available in HD on AppleTV
£2.49 to rent or £6.99 to buy at iTunes
http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/688881/Batman-Begins/Product.html
DVD £5.99 or part of 2 for £10 offer.
£15.99 on Bluray when it ships next month
OR
National Treasure 2:
£10.99 at iTunes standard def only.
£11.99 on DVD at Play
£16.99 on Bluray
Play usually get me a disc in a few days or on release day and I've never been that desperate to get a back catalogue movie that I'd pay a premium.
The launch selection is very poor virtually nothing new that I wanted to see.
So apparently it's cheaper to master, press, wholesale, retail and post a disc than to provide a download? As usual greed from the movie industry wastes an opportunity. Looks like I'll be sticking with discs and the postman for a while longer.
Boo iTunes
ArcticFox @ Jun 4th 2008 6:28AM
Bit pricey, you can pay £4-5 a month and get unlimited amount of films both SD and HD and even games instead of paying £4 for 1 movie.
Too expensive.
ArcticFox @ Jun 4th 2008 6:29AM
I meant to say rentals sorry not movie purchases.
Andy @ Jun 4th 2008 7:16AM
Well, as usual the price is the movie studios doing. I'm sure Apple would much rather sell films for less than it costs to get a DVD - they would sell boatloads of Apple TVs. But that's precisely the reason why the movie studios insist on such silly pricing - to prevent handing all their cards to Apple.
But let's face it - nobody else has a top-to-bottom fully integrated solution half as nice as the Apple one. The movie studios and record companies had all the time in the world to come up with their own solution, and they couldn't do it.
SimonSharks @ Jun 4th 2008 6:36AM
Matrix on iTunes £6.99 (+ AppleTV £199)
Matrix on Amazon £2.98 (which I can play for free on any of the 10 DVD players I have in my house or a friends house)
How can Apple compete when you can buy the DVD cheaper and rip it a higher quality minus DRM?
jonatron @ Jun 4th 2008 7:36AM
One word...... convenience. People are lazy and will pay.
toxicpiano @ Jun 4th 2008 6:49AM
also, fuck you film studios
CrackedButter @ Jun 4th 2008 6:56AM
Since I like to travel light and I live with very few possessions I welcome this move by Apple, I'd rather have a digital download than a DVD box which will only take up room, the only problem is that the cost is steep and Bittorrent is a few clicks away. Shame.
GenBanks @ Jun 4th 2008 7:04AM
I'm not terribly happy, that's seriously expensive and I see no reason why we should need Apple TV to watch the films in HD. What about those of us who use a computer monitor connected to our PC instead of a television to watch films and TV?
I'll stick to renting the physical Blu-Ray discs from LoveFilm.com and enjoying higher resolution video for less.
Also, some Blu-Ray films are starting to come out with the digital version included, such as Juno. So not only do you get a high res blu-ray, but you also get the version you can keep on your pc/pmp.
I do, however, appreciate that this will be appealing to some, mainly for the simplicity of having all your media in one place with one company.
Matt @ Jun 4th 2008 10:36AM
Not only just blu-ray discs are coming with a digital copy, the 'special edition' of juno i bought the other week came with an access code to unlock a digital copy of the movie from within itunes. so for $19.99 i got the special edition dvd (with extras, and commentary... things that are NOT included when you pay the same price for a copy of the movie from the iTMS), and a digital copy sitting pretty on my ipod.
yeah, this scheme makes perfect sense...
Lee @ Jun 4th 2008 7:06AM
Not a lot more ot say really that hasn't been said. This is a pi$$ pore limp into the UK market. Come on guys look at the "Comedy" titles for instance
Naked Gun 33 1/3rd
Golden Child
School of Rock
Crocodile Dundee II
and it's "Top Movies" are
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
Jackass Two
Zoolander
OK just like the selection of movies available I'm already bored.
Of late I have been buying music for the sheer ease of use when I want a tune and can't be bothered to search for it but with a selection like this i'll stick to getting my movies "elsewhere" .
toxicpiano @ Jun 4th 2008 7:10AM
I always liked naked gun. But you're right most of the films are pretty poor