We have no idea
why they chose today to do it, but today seven major movie studios announced they'll be selling movies online through
Movielink and CinemaNow. Warner Bros, Universal, Sony, Paramount, Fox, and MGM
will all be distributing first-run titles online -- definitely something they've never done before -- through Movielink
for between 20 and 30 bones (way, way too much if you ask us), with older movies going for between $10 and $20.
Lionsgate (and Sony) also announced distribution through CinemaNow. Really this was only a matter of time -- for these
guys it was either sell these things online DRMed all to hell for way too much money (see above), go the subscription
route (like Vongo, for example -- not likely) or continue whining
without any justification whatsoever about pirates stealing movies in the Internet. At least now they can say they've
legitimately offered their digital content up online (hey, you can even make a DVD backup for use only on
Movielink-authorized computers), even though they still can't account for the artificial demand they try to create by
releasing movies for purchase months after the films have gone out of theater.[Thanks, Phil]
