Best Buy's internet movie store launches this month under the CinemaNow brand
By Richard Lawler 
posted May 18th 2010 8:17AM
posted May 18th 2010 8:17AM
That Best Buy is ready to launch its entry into the online video on-demand game is not at all a surprise, but we weren't expecting to see such a familiar name. The retail giant purchased the CinemaNow brand away from Sonic Solutions (explaining the latter's sudden switch to RoxioNow) and will start selling movies sans-disk to web connected devices later this month, starting with LG Blu-ray players (where buyers won't see the Best Buy logo at all) and home theater in a box systems, followed by Samsung's internet connected home theater equipment and of course the house Insignia brand. As planned, it will have "first run" movies for sale as soon as they arrive on DVD, with rentals for $2.99 - $3.99 per movie and purchases at $9.99 to $19.99, including HD titles and some available in 1080p. Apparently the name game is how Best Buy plans to sneak boxes with its store embedded through other retailers, we'll see how Wal-mart / VUDU, Amazon and the rest respond to the challenge. Best Buy Provides Customers Same-Day Instant Access to New Release Movies and TV Shows with Launch of CinemaNow(TM)
Digital Entertainment Platform Debuts on Devices This Month
MINNEAPOLIS, May 18, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Best Buy Co. Inc today announced the availability of its new digital video service CinemaNow which will provide customers same-day instant access to new release movies and TV shows.
The service will initially be accessible through select connected Blu-ray Disc players and HDTVs, and on most PCs via the web at www.cinemanow.com. Beginning this month, the service will be available on all new connected Blu-ray Disc players and home theater systems from LG Electronics. CinemaNow is also expected to launch on an array of other devices from various manufacturers, including Insignia, later this year.
CinemaNow, the result of the previously announced strategic relationship between Sonic Solutions(R) and Best Buy, will be powered by the RoxioNow(TM) technology platform. Best Buy owns the legal rights to the CinemaNow trademark, and will use it going forward to market the service to consumers who will have the ability to buy or rent from an extensive library of premium content, including new release movies and TV shows, with no subscription required.
The platform will also allow customers to seamlessly access their premium content on a wide range of Internet-connected devices from multiple manufacturers. The initial product launch, which is expected to be followed by an improved and updated version later this year, will allow customers to easily browse, search and purchase premium content through a highly-functional, straightforward user interface, and will deliver a high-quality viewing experience through enhanced playback technology.
"With the introduction of CinemaNow, Best Buy continues our commitment to evolve with our customers as their demand for digital entertainment grows," said Chris Homeister, senior vice president of entertainment for Best Buy. "The convenience, selection and flexibility of the CinemaNow service offers customers more freedom in the way they choose to consume entertainment from Best Buy. This service, which complements our existing suite of digital entertainment brands, will be available to customers in their homes and on-the-go through a broad array of devices and will be brought to life in store with the help of our Blue Shirts and Geek Squad Agents."
"At LG, we're committed to enriching in-home entertainment by delivering the ultimate HD viewing experience and limitless content options," said Peter Reiner, senior vice president, marketing, LG Electronics USA, Inc. "Best Buy, through its compelling CinemaNow service, will provide customers with one of the most interactive entertainment options available making it easy for people to access their favorite content using LG's NetCast Entertainment Access feature simply from the remote."
"With a track record for bringing innovative technologies to a broad audience, Best Buy is in a great position to expand the market for on-demand home entertainment," said Mike Dunn, Fox Home Entertainment worldwide president. "We are thrilled to partner with them and provide a wide selection of entertainment that can be accessed across many popular devices."
The first update to the CinemaNow service is expected to release on select devices later this year and will include an advanced user interface and expanded video playback features aimed at further improving the video entertainment experience.
About Best Buy Co., Inc.
With operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, China, Mexico and Turkey, Best Buy is a multinational retailer of technology and entertainment products and services with a commitment to growth and innovation. The Best Buy family of brands and partnerships collectively generates more than $49 billion in annual revenue and includes brands such as Best Buy; Best Buy Mobile; Audiovisions; The Carphone Warehouse; Future Shop; Geek Squad, Jiangsu Five Star; Magnolia Audio Video; Napster; Pacific Sales; The Phone House; and Speakeasy. Approximately 180,000 employees apply their talents to help bring the benefits of these brands to life for customers through retail locations, multiple call centers and Web sites, in-home solutions, product delivery and activities in our communities. Community partnership is central to the way we do business at Best Buy. In fiscal 2010, we donated a combined $25.2 million to improve the vitality of the communities where our employees and customers live and work.
For more information about Best Buy, visit www.bby.com.
SOURCE: Best Buy Co. Inc.
kool
@2her0ck Since cinemanow is available via win 7 media center, if they have good content I can see this replacing my Apple TV. netflix and especially Hulu have aweful VoD library. Netflix has some cool indie stuff but Hulu is a complete joke!
I've already replaced my cable box with Apple TV. But a Media Center integrated solution would be nicer nicer I then get OTA TV + VoD + Netflix + optical (DVD/bd) + music in one convenient UI with no space limits.
I hate 24hr rentals - ah the good ol' days of being able to TiVO the PPV and watch when you were ready....
Oh no, the BB war. Stay tuned for BlackBuster vs. Best-Buy.
@Techno1q
Here come, the men in black....
$3 to $4 for a 25 hour rental? Seriously? Do their marketing guys even get that they are directly competing with Netflix and RedBox? Granted, the Netflix streaming content isn't always the newest stuff, but seriously.
I guess they are targeting more of the "on demand" aspect of the cable and satellite companies, where the pricing is a bit more directly competitive.
@Vrmithrax
Those prices aren't that out of line for what you could get new off Amazon's rental service. And Netflix rarely has any new movies on their watch it now service that are new releases.
@Vrmithrax
new releases are available here way before netflix and redbox, that the reason for the price difference. personally i can wait
in the face of the Hurt Locker situation buying movies might just be a smart thing to do
Are they going to make you buy Monster HDMI cables for 'an optimized viewing experience'? Lol
@Big Wizz +1 lulz. Yeah, you'll need them to optimize the speed at which you get ripped off.
@Big Wizz
Hey best buy is just looking out for you. They don't want the weight of your wallet getting in the way of the weight of all the stuff you should be carrying out of their store. They are there to help you lighten it!
I suspect this won't be available to us canadians...so sad. You know, there are 35 million of us...we like movies on demand. Single tear.
As usual, these idiots just don't get it.
$10-20 for a movie?
Isn't that what DVDs and even BluRay discs are going for now?
So why the frack would someone pay essentially the same price for the privilege of locking their digital copy onto one device (you better believe that you won't easily be able to movie this digital copy) instead of having a physical disc that they can play anywhere on anything and even lend it or sell it??
As usual Hollywood and the people that work in and around the movie industry prove that they are utter clueless about technology.
@Hazdaz - I had the same questions about the purchasing... Even if they lock it into an online account that you can access it from on your different media players (similar to STEAM for games), that means you have to hope that this service stays in business forever, or you lose your movie.
And if it is locked into a single consumer product (like a TV), you have to wonder how issues like storage capacity and electronics failure will affect your purchase?
@Vrmithrax
Oh absolutely - the whole issue about if (when) they go out of business, chances are you are SOL.
And what's the deal with DVD Extras, like director commentaries and stuff like that? Would you still have to buy the disc to get those - which I am sure BestBuy would be glad to sell you - or does this service offer that stuff? My bet is that you get to only watch the movie itself and nothing more.
All this stuff is a scam. If they wanted to charge people a REASONABLE price, then I could see some benefit, but for the price of the physical disc, the protective case, the cover art and all the other crap that goes along with a DVD , they are trying to sell you just the digital copy... well that's just a rip-off.
Remeber DivX (the dics, not the codec)?
Stick to overpricing movies and electronics, stay out of the digital content market.
@kuj0317
wow please make spell check your friend.
Epic fail
Go away Blockbuster. No one likes you.
Call me old fashioned, but I still prefer physical media.
DRM'd video, like DRM's audio, books, etc, depends so heavily on the format being supported that "forever" is just a wink and a nod away from "so sorry, here's some free coupons for your next purchase."
I might, maybe, rely on Amazon if there were contract terms mandating that they support the format forever, or guarantee a format upgrade if necessary. But Best Buy? Suppose it had been Circuit City, or CompUSA, or any of the other bankrupt video sellers that litter history? S.o.L.
Give me discs, or just admit it's just a limited rental, all promises aside.
Wonder if you can buy/rent on a Mac? As of now, nope! :(
@RyTheGuy Macs suck. just kidding! But really...
Blu-ray is the future..physical media will overcome digital media in the movie market for a while. With over 50 gb of storage per disc, Blu-ray is simply unbeatable at this time.
Haha I'm banned from my local best buy because I return/exchange too much. Nothing I buy ever works right.
Yaaa!!! Roxio is the worst company in the World. That is why Adaptec spun them off years ago. They were embarrassed by the shoddy products and severely poor customer support.
It's still Best Buy. I wonder if they will sell me an extended warranty on my rental.
You can't polish a turd.