VUDU first on-demand service to sell HD and HDX movies
By Darren Murph 
posted Feb 24th 2009 12:01AM
posted Feb 24th 2009 12:01AM
VUDU FIRST TO SELL ON-DEMAND MOVIES IN HIGH DEFINITION
2009 Oscar-Winner "Man on Wire" among First To Be Offered; Other Films Offered from Independent Studios FirstLook, Kino, Magnolia
Santa Clara, CA, FEBRUARY 24, 2009 – VUDU, Inc., a leading provider of digital on-demand entertainment products and services, today announced it has achieved another industry milestone by becoming the first on-demand service to offer high definition movies for download to own on its popular 1080p Internet Movie Player. HD movies are available for purchase today to all Vudu owners.
Until now consumers have been restricted to renting HD movies from on-demand services, including VUDU's library of over 1,400 HD movies, the largest HD library in the world. Today VUDU unveiled a collection of over 50 HD movies from top independent studios that are available for both rental and download to own. Movies offered in this collection will be available for purchase in both instant HD and VUDU's industry-leading HDX format at the same price. HDX is the highest quality on-demand format available anywhere on cable, satellite, broadcast, or the Internet.
Magnolia Picture's Man on Wire, the 2009 Oscar-winning documentary that has been showered with critical praise and global film awards, is among the first titles to be offered for purchase in HD on VUDU, along with critically acclaimed Transsiberian and War, Inc. from FirstLook Studios.
"Consumers are clamoring for the ability to own digitally-delivered titles in high definition, especially in our HDX format, and we are excited to be the first in the industry to meet this consumer need," said Edward Lichty, VUDU's EVP of Strategy and Content. "This is a watershed event for the industry as well, signaling the studios' recognition of and confidence in digital delivery as an increasingly important part of their business. We expect to see a continuing expansion of digital rights in the coming months."
FirstLook Studios, Kino, and Magnolia Pictures are among the independent studios offering films for sale on VUDU in HD. VUDU plans to offer every HD release from these studios for purchase as they are added to the service, day and date with DVD release. All current films and subsequent additions to this HD collection will be available to purchase in instant HD and VUDU's industry-leading HDX format.
"We are thrilled to work with VUDU to offer our new releases for sale in HD when they are released on DVD," said Dean Wilson, Chief Operating Officer of FirstLook Studios. "We continue to explore every channel for distribution, and the emerging digital platform that reaches consumers in their homes directly on their HDTVs via VUDU is an important new channel for us."
High definition titles purchased from VUDU can be stored on the consumer's VUDU box or in the VUDU Vault, a free online storage option for movies and TV shows that enables consumers to free up disk space while still retaining access to all their purchased titles. Movies are priced between $13.99 and $23.99.
VUDU's library of more than 14,000 movies and TV episodes, including more than 1,400 HD films, is updated weekly with new releases and library titles. VUDU is the only service to offer both instant start HD and HDX, the highest quality on-demand format available anywhere. Designed to deliver an optimized cinematic experience to owners of 40-inch and larger HDTVs and projectors, HDX with VUDU's TruFilm™ technology features a virtually artifact free 1080p picture and immersive, high definition sound.
Additionally, VUDU offers access to popular Internet based content, from video, music and photos from popular sites such as YouTube, Flikr, and to games and social networking applications, directly on the TV, all easily accessible using the VUDU remote control with no need for a PC.
About VUDU:
VUDU is a leading provider of digital technologies and services that deliver Internet entertainment to consumers' HDTVs and Home Theaters. VUDU's 1080p Internet Movie Players, the VUDU HD, VUDU XL and VUDU XL2 are designed to deliver tens of thousands of on-demand movies and TV shows directly to HDTVs. All versions support native instant start HD as well as HDX, and automatically upscale standard resolution movies. All movies are displayed in 1080p resolution at 24 frames per second, the cinematic gold standard.
Through relationships with every major US movie studio and more than 40 independent studios and distributors, VUDU offers a vast array of on-demand choices at the highest quality. The VUDU collection is constantly updated, and newly released movies from major studios are available on the same day as the DVD is released. Consumers can finally watch great movies without the hassles associated with traditional services:-no driving, no mailing, and no monthly fee. For more information, visit http://www.vudu.com/.
stream hulu and i'm in.
they are working on it. Already got a lot of of steaming services setup.
let me keep/play the files from my computer and I'm in...
Only $20 per flick, plus another $5-15 in a couple of years to upgrade to HD and strip DRM. Thanks, but no thanks.
those prices are already in HD. Also- why worry about stripping DRM? Vudu is movies and only movies- just the set top box. they have never said they want to branch out to portables ect...
Why NOT worry about DRM, you freak?
Why would I want to buy a movie for $13.99-23.99 when I can get it on netflix for a dollor more a month and I don't own it for life?
if you want to rent -like netflix- do so. Vudu offers rentals on all movies as far as I know... they even have a 99 for 99cents selection that is constantly being refreshed.
I feel for the idiots that will actually "buy" DRM heavy movies that are still inferior to Blu-Ray and yet cost as much as a Blu-Ray disc that you can play on any machine you want.
Good luck playing your HD-lite movies when your VUDU unit goes tits up or the company goes out of business idiots.
could say the same thing about blu-ray and when it gets replaced having its online functions disappear...
Are you seriously stupid or something? A Blu-Ray player does not need to be connected to the Internet to play a Blu-Ray disc. There are new discs coming out which will require an update to the firmware to play, but that's a far, far cry from this Vudu phone home bullshit where you can only play the movie you "bought" on the single box you "bought" it on.
In 10 years I will be able to play my hundreds of Blu-Ray disc movies, even if I have to shell out for a player on eBay... what are you going to do with your Vudu movies when the service/company is no longer around?
Not to mention that this shit looks like ass on a large high quality display.
Low bitrate HD-Lite movie with crappy low bitrate DD 5.1 = the FAIL.
A few reasons to own one:
It's more convenient than going to a shop, rental outlet, or waiting for arrivals from Netflix and their ilk.
It frees up the space that would otherwise be occupied by DVD and Bluray cases.
If you're into being "green", the argument could be made that this creates less pollution and likely doesn't utilize a significant more amount of electricity in the process to offset this effect. I don't know the specs of it or the average specs of Bluray players, so that's just a guess on my part.
It is less likely to need repairs since there is no moving laser lens and no discs to scratch. The hard drive can fail, but optical drives typically run a higher risk of doing so.
The standard Vudu box, which supports the HD content and has a 250 GB hard drive, is only $149. You can now find some Bluray players in that price range, though caveat emptor, my friend.
I'm sure there are more reasons that actual Vudu owners can attest to, but I don't have one and really can't speak from experience. I don't really have a need or desire for one, but neither do I have a need or desire for a Bluray player at this point in time. Netflix, Hulu, and the odd OTA broadcast are more than sufficient for most of my needs.
You see, I wrote this reply to illustrate to you how one can still understand other peoples' interests without sharing them and not look like a jackass in the process.
You forgot to add that you are "buying" movies that can never be lent out, resold, or watched on other machines that you might have (like a second machine on a bedroom display). Additionally the eventual failure of the company that makes the box can/will render your movies unplayable when your box finally gives up the ghost.
Additionally you are "buying" a copy of the movie with inferior audio and video quality compared to optical media.
All of these things would be fine if the movie you were "buying" was at a substantially lower price point than the far superior physical media (as in the case of the Amazon Kindle, which has DRM books for $9.95 as opposed to paying $15 or more for the same book in hard cover) but the reality is that these download movies don't really cost any less than their vastly superior physical counterparts.
Not everyone demands the highest quality AV available. That's why people still purchase 720p TVs, even when in the 32" - 37" range. Why? They're cheaper, and they work well enough.
Most people don't bank on the company they purchase from going out of business, either. It's a sound point, and certainly worth considering, but that possibility is true with all companies. Why does the DRM mean that once the company is out of business (if that ever happens) the movies you purchased no longer work? All I've found from their site says that the only data it is transmitting while your box is on is media data to other users. Also, this may be wishful thinking, but I don't think it's outside the realm of possibilty that they'd release a patch to allow users to continue watching purchased movies before they shutter their doors, even if it doesn't mean completely stripping them of DRM. Of course, I wouldn't bet on that if it were a point of contention.
You didn't counter any of my points, you just made additional arguments. All of my original points are still valid.
Like I said, I wouldn't purchase one of these myself because none of my reasons actually apply to me. Then again, I have no use for a Bluray player either. My HDTV is 32", my surround sound system mid-range about 3 years old. Where it sits is far enough away that the pixel density difference between a DVD and Bluray player is unnoticeable to the naked eye. I know, because I watched the same movie on Bluray and DVD. The sound may not be the best it can possibly be, but then again my hearing isn't perfect pitch. One truth about life you should realize, there's a market for everything. There is a market for this product, even if we're not it.
What the heck is the difference between HDX and HD?
the 'X'
Man on Wire was SO good. He's my new hero. And they even talked about him being totally French after the tightrope walking and just having sex all the time. Great picture.
I don't understand how this is "first." Can't you already do this on the Playstation Store?
I'm not near my PS3 to confirm, but I believe you can only rent them and they would expire after a period of time.
Jason,
I think you need to take a breath and chill. In the past weeks I have been researching various VODs out there and it seems the press have proclaimed Vudu, currently, as the best one out there, in terms of VIDEO quality.
I'm currently a Netlfix subscriber and am getting a bit tired of their service. When a popular movie come out, there are times I have to wait a week for availability. Then there's the whole "mail a DVD in and wait 2 days to get the other one". It's wasted time. That's why VOD is becoming the new technology. DVDs will become a thing of the past.....like VHS tapes.
You are correct in that there's a chance Vudu may not be around after this year or next but then again, Blu-ray isn't taking over America as predicted after the HD wars.
I believe, according to their site, HDX is their format on HD movies that make them near Blu-Ray quality...I think...
And so it begins...
Hi I am Ron the VUDU Evangelist,
VUDU's quality is considered number 1 in the in the industry. As the question about the difference in HD vs. HDX. HDX has a higher bitrate than their HD offering. HDX was brought on board for those that have panels that are 42" and larger.
HDX cannot be instantly viewed as their SD and HD offerings and can take up to 4 hours after ordering before it can be watch. But VUDU does have the option of ordering over their web site so when you get home the movie can be watched.
You may want to think of it this way. SD VUDU titles stream at about 2 mbps, HD at 4 mbps, HDX would require an average of 16 mbps to stream but its also variable bit rate that could go over 25 mbps.
One comment about the "If VUDU goes out of business you can't watch what you purchase or you have to be connected to watch purchased content". Once you purchase a movie or rent and download the VUDU can play the movie without being connected to the Internet. I used this capability on vacation pre-downloaded a bunch of movies before I left and was just fine playing them back at out hotel.
As someone with hearing difficulties, I'm just waiting for a streaming movie service that includes a decent amount of closed captioning. Is it really that much to ask for, given that *bootlegs* often include selectable subtitles?
I bought a movie (for keeps) on my PS3 from the Playstation network. Vudu is not the first.
This article talks about high-definition movies. Except for some limited toe-in-the-water titles available for purchase for a short time on VUDU, there used to be no purchasing of HD movies on VOD service (PSN, XLM, iTunes, etc.).
Now, regardless of how one feels about merits of purchasing downloadable content, you have to remember that more choices = better. No one is being forced to purchase instead of renting after all :)
I posted this in another VUDU article:
I end up not touching my home theater for a whole month at times. And that means paying a monthly fee isn't ideal for me (Netflix or similar).
Next, the picture quality is fantastic in 1080p24.
The library of films is HUGE. Includes international films, cult classics, documentaries, indie films, etc etc.
The remote is very intuitive and coupled with a very easy and effective UI.
There are channel-like programs that include youtube, flicker, and other internet media sources.
The software is constantly being updated.
I can rent a movie in full 1080p HD while I'm not at home and then look forward to watching it when I get home.
If I want to watch HD immediately, it'll be a lower bitrate... but still looks good.
The on-demand style of the service doesn't fit everyone, but it fits my lifestyle perfectly.
Not everyone wants to have a physical buildup of Movies, They would rather just keep it digital. Live in a small apt?
You can take the little vudu box with you (it's smaller than carrying a large case of DVD movies) and watch at a friends house or something.
I think being able to purchase HDX movies is the next step in getting this service to top ranks. Next step is to "slingbox" the Vudu by letting you play your owned\rented content on a laptop on the go. After that, say goodbye to physical media.
I own a VUDU and this announcement is awesome. I think it is a great first step into allowing people to build digital libraries of their favorite movies.
I don't understand why some people in the comments are so angry, or why they keep bashing VUDU. Is there another streaming service that is better than VUDU right now? I don't think so. Is it because they think Blu-ray is better? Maybe.
It seems to me that most of you just don't want streaming movies to exist at all. Even though VUDU keeps making the right steps in increasing quality and offering instant play movies, and now movies for HD purchase, you would rather have all of that just go away. I think it is dumb to assume that VUDU is not filling a void. People want a solution without discs where they can get their movies over broadband.
I'm still waiting for the day that I invite my friends over to watch a movie and one of them refuses because it is not on a disc.