Apple adds HD video purchases to the iTunes Store

Apple's flood of announcements this month continues apace today with the addition of high-def movie purchases to the iTunes Store. Although HD TV shows were previously available to buy, HD movies were rental-only until now. HD flicks will cost you $19.99, and we're guessing they're the same H.264 compressed 720p quality as usual, so videophiles will probably want to stick to Blu-ray. Purchases will come with both an HD file and an iPod / iPhone-ready SD file, which is a nice touch, and Apple's also promising that HD rentals will now be on the store within 30 days of retail release -- better, but not perfect. It's all going live today with exclusive pre-orders of Quantum of Solace and Twilight, but honestly, we're still wondering when Apple will implement subscription video and really take it to Netflix.

[Brendan H Posted Mar 19th 2009 8:36PM]

Yeah, 20 bucks is too much. I'd say $10 is probably the sweet spot, but that would cut into blu-ray and dvd sales. So the $19.99 price-point is probably being set by the movie studios, and not by Apple.

[Ryback Posted Mar 20th 2009 4:40AM]

@Brendan H
It is probably not. Why would the studio care whether they get their license fee from a download or a physical media? I there is a license fee difference I would think the download would have the lower fee as it is lower quality and locked down even more than a disc.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 19th 2009 8:41PM]

it doesn't matter, i wouldn't buy it because I'm deaf and Apple used to have over 100+ movies with the caption features available, now, as of today, there's only ONE move in their entire collection that has closed captions. So, I'm forced to rip dvd's from the rental place, include subtitles and compress it. Thanks Apple for failing to follow the American Disability Act law.

[bravadomizzou Posted Mar 19th 2009 9:09PM]

Wonder if they will charge you to upgrade your quality like they do with music now??

[Quikboy Posted Mar 19th 2009 10:31PM]

Does the Zune Marketplace offer HD with it's video content? I'm hoping movies will come in some day...

[saggese Posted Mar 19th 2009 10:46PM]

Delete your film and you'll have to buy it again. No redownloads at apple store. Other online stores offer that option.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 20th 2009 3:14AM]

Pardon? I think you'll find that you can download your content again. Certainly I have done so in the past. Apple will limit the number of times per year that you can download your content again but it certainly is possible.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 20th 2009 1:00AM]

It's better than Bluray because I don't need to find another DVD for iPod format~

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 20th 2009 1:36AM]

folks may be looking at this issue the wrong way. assuming that Apple is the issue with rental availability, release of HD downloads of movies, subscription services etc. just like the record labels not wanting DRM, perhaps the studios are the ones that didn't want digital rentals until 3 months later, didn't want HD movie sales and gave Netflix exclusive rights to certain videos.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 20th 2009 3:20AM]

The movie studios, as shocking as this statement may sound, are in dire need of a good slapping. Why are they preventing sales of movies via the likes of iTunes until 30-days after they are available in your local shops? Why are they preventing rental of movies until after they have been available to buy digitally for 30-days or more? Why are they forcing the likes of iTunes to remove movies that were available for rental due to exclusivity contracts when the likes of Blockbuster are not impacted?

It's crap like this that makes me consider Blu-ray despite the fact I don't actually want it and it's only my principles that mean that I haven't bought a player already since that is clearly what the movie studios want me to do.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 20th 2009 3:21AM]

Oh, and HD movies only seems to be available in the US. Big shock there...

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 25th 2009 1:55PM]

I purchased the ITunes HD Twilight movie the day it came out - March 21st. I invited some friends over and we set up the projector and watched the movie outside on a King Size sheet nailed to the side of my garage. It was a great night and a great picture! I will be glad to have the HD versions as we typically do a movie night once a week in the summer!

Thanks,
Cammie
http://www.momsmaterial.com