VUDU announces $0.99 extended rentals, "99 for 99" movie channel

Shortly after picking up its very own adult channel, VUDU is announcing a more, shall we say, family friendly bit today. Effective immediately, VUDU users will be able to renew any SD rental for $0.99 within seven days of first viewing the film, while renewals of HD rentals will cost $1.99. Additionally, VUDU has launched a new "99 for 99" movie channel which contains a rotating list of 99 films that can be rented for -- you guessed it -- just south of a Washington. Interestingly, VUDU calls the deals "summer blockbuster specials," though there's no sign of an end date for either. Can't say this totally changes the way we see the movie set-top-box, but it's certainly a step in the right direction. Full release after the jump.

VUDU ANNOUNCES 99 CENT SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER SPECIAL

VUDU Enables Rental Renewal for 99 Cents and Launches "99 for 99" Movie Channel.
First Major Shift in Rental Window Policy in Digital Delivery Category

SANTA CLARA, CA – August 13, 2008 – VUDU, the company that brings instant access to 1080p HD entertainment to the living room, today announced a summer movie extravaganza that will let viewers rent recent blockbuster hits and cinematic classics for just 99 cents from VUDU's groundbreaking service.

Extended Rental for $0.99: Starting immediately, the VUDU service will allow viewers to renew any standard definition video rental for just 99 cents within seven days of first viewing a film. The 99 cents video renewal is a first in the digital delivery category and guarantees that VUDU owners receive the most generous rental renewal policy in the industry. The rental of high definition movies can be extended for $1.99.

99 for 99: Simultaneously, VUDU launched a movie channel called "99 for 99". Its editorial team selected 99 blockbuster films each available to rent for 99 cents. New films will be rotated into the channel to ensure that new mega-hits are always available throughout the year.

"In this age of $4-a-gallon gas and staycations, we felt that VUDU customers deserved a break and should be able to watch a great film for just 99 cents," said Patrick Cosson, VP of Marketing for VUDU. "These initiatives are groundbreaking. Our 99 cent rental renewal is a first in our industry and will make it easier for our viewers to finish watching a great movie when it fits their schedule, not ours."

VUDU enables high-speed broadband customers to get instant access through their TV to a vast selection of top-quality video entertainment including HD movies, more than 1,000 hit television episodes and more than 6,000 movies from all major studios and over 50 independent distributors. VUDU delivers movies directly to consumers' homes as they are released by the studios on DVD and maintains an up-to-date library of new releases and classic movies.

About VUDU

VUDU is dedicated to bringing instant access to video entertainment, including thousands of mainstream movies, to every living room. Through relationships with every major US movie studio and more than 50 independent studios and distributors, VUDU gives movie fans the ultimate in flexibility and choice. Consumers can finally watch what they want, when they want-no planning needed, no computer necessary, no software downloads, and no cable TV service or satellite subscription required.

[fred @ Aug 13th 2008 8:05AM]

99 cents for the Golden Child?

Yeah, sure.

[Raheem @ Aug 13th 2008 8:11AM]

Auto +1 for not screaming, "First!"

[XenoX101 @ Aug 13th 2008 11:23AM]

Hm, not sure about the terminology of "Washington" and "Benjamin" for american money, sounds a bit pretentious. Also it probably contributes to the ideology some americans have that America is the only continent in the world and everyone else is a 'foreigner'.

[johnzilla @ Aug 13th 2008 11:31AM]

Your comment makes no sense at all. "Washington" and "Benjamin" are used to describe American money because that's exactly who's on the respective bill.

It is no different than Canadians calling their dollars "loonies" because there's a picture of a loon on the coin.

[XenoX101 @ Aug 13th 2008 11:42AM]

Yes, but I think americans that feel the need to proclaim who is on their money make themself sound arrogant by doing so. It's making the assumption everyone knows what american money is, whilst imposing a terminology that alienates people who aren't in the know. I don't see whats wrong with just saying american dollars, US dollars, etc.

It just seems like an attempt to make everyone believe american dollars is the norm, whilst touting the people who are on them and to be honest I don't think americans need any more pride.

[Mile @ Aug 13th 2008 12:48PM]

As inventors of the internet, we Americans are the true natives here. Perhaps you should just be thankful we let you on it.

[Preston @ Aug 13th 2008 12:59PM]

The American dollar is the standard by which virtually every other currency is based upon. So yes, it is the "norm".

[ds @ Aug 13th 2008 1:50PM]

@XenoX11

1. US currency is the norm. (at least it is the closest the thing the world has to a 'norm' when it comes to currency)

2. It is not pretentious to use slang terms.

3. It is not pretentious for a nation to respect the people who founded their nation.

4. You seem like a petty child. You are attacking millions of people because ..well I honestly don't know. You seem to want to attack an entire nation based on your lack of understanding of a slang term.

5. Your argument is stupid.

[Brandon @ Aug 13th 2008 3:01PM]

ds, maybe you need to look up the definition of pretentious before you say it's not... "characterized by assumption of dignity or importance."

And as for the comment about canadians, yeah our $1 coin is called a loonie but we don't go around saying "wow I got all this shit for only four looonies." We just say four bucks.

Not that this comment makes much sense anyway, since no idiot would claim to have bought a new computer for "less than four John A. MacDonalds" or how you can get some new accessory for "less than Sir Wilfred Laurier." Nobody says that.

It's dumb and it IS pretentious, and just requires anyone who isn't american to google a Washington.



That being said, if you can't figure out that a Washington is a $1 bill from the summary, then just... wow.

[ds @ Aug 18th 2008 2:56PM]

@Brandon

I really don't need to google the definition of the word to know what it means.

Using slang terms is not pretentious. Referring to money by the symbol on that money is not pretentious -- It is actually extremely common all over the world.

I'm trying to figure out your quote though -- "characterized by assumption of dignity or importance". Are you saying it is pretentious because George Washington is not important? I would think the people that founded the US are actually quite important figures in history, unlike some people I have seen on many nations' currency.. Australia comes to mind. Maybe those countries are pretentious for assuming these people are important enough to be printed on money.

[Rocketboy @ Aug 13th 2008 12:27PM]

"which contains a rotating list of 99 films that can be rented for -- you guessed it -- just south of a Washington"

DC or the state? Either way, geographic restrictions stink.

[Preston @ Aug 13th 2008 1:00PM]

$0.24 per movie rental!

[Rocketboy @ Aug 13th 2008 12:28PM]

Brits need to stop saying Quid as well then.

[Rocketboy @ Aug 13th 2008 12:29PM]

Was a reply to XenoX101.

[XenoX101 @ Aug 13th 2008 1:04PM]

Quid is just old english, it doesn't refer to any person and actually comes from latin, I think this makes it quite different as it doesn't hold the same conotations

[Rocketboy @ Aug 13th 2008 3:44PM]

Olde English which is basically slang at this point in history. You know, slang, the thing that lets us US Americans call US dollars bucks, smackers, clams, greenbacks, Washingtons, etc.

[tomas @ Oct 9th 2008 11:37PM]

Wow. I was all excited to watch some HD content... only to be VERY disappointed to find out i can only watch it in 480p over the component ports! I looked over the box everywhere to see where I might have missed such a such an arbitrary limitation. Not a hint that the device/service would be so discriminatory against early adopters just because my projector doesn't have HDMI. And from what I can tell, at least a dozen other content providers don't place this limitation on their devices. Its too bad, as the person amongst my peers with the knack for technology(aka nerd), i wouldn't be able to recommend this device to anyone. Back to recommending Apple TV's! Back goes a Vudu to BestBuy...