Starz Encore To Launch Movie Download Service With Real
- by June 11, 2004
The service will enable consumers to download movie content from Starz to a PC and stream it via RealNetworks' RealPlayer. The service will reportedly cost about $12 per month, and will offer nearly 100 movie titles each month, according to a report on paidContent.org. Starz declined to specify details last week in response to questions from MediaDailyNews; Real did not return calls by press time.
According to the published report, the movies will only be playable on Real's player, and downloads will only be active for the month during which customers have subscribed to the service. It was not known whether the plan calls for a la carte downloads--similar to digital music services like Apple's iTunes, which offers the ability to download single tracks. It was also unclear how digital rights management and copy protection issues will be handled, or whether movie content can be downloaded or copied to portable DVD players and other digital devices for later access.
The new service appears to be part of a multi-year deal Starz Encore Group made with RealNetworks in December 2002, when the two parties agreed to launch online movies on-demand.
Starz and Real aren't the only companies involved in distribution of movie content via the Net; Movielink and CinemaNow are also in the space.
