DRM will be it's downfall. People don't want DRM encumbered content, freedom to move the file around and play on any of their devices (without limitation) is a must.
Fox to release movie downloads weeks before discs
Fox is to offer movie downloads up to three weeks before the films arrive on disc and in video-on-demand services in a bid to boost digital sales. The studio's scheme will take place in the US, and push product - starting with Ridley Scott's Alien prequel, Prometheus - through the UltraViolet cloud movie service. Prometheus …
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Friday 7th September 2012 10:46 GMT Andy ORourke
I Second that
When will "they" learn that we live in a connected world and people on this side of the pond are tired of being treated like second class citizens? I mean if a film is released that I'm going to buy then why can't I have it at the same time as my American cousins?
Like you say, if there is ANYTHING designed to encourage piracy (I know, it's not right) it's staggered regional release dates, it's not like there is anything delaying them launching worldwide is there?
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Friday 7th September 2012 11:39 GMT Dave 126
Re: That's probably why they're starting with Promethius
Has Ultra Violet been cracked yet? Otherwise, as the next reply stated- pirates will already have had their hands on it anyhows. I was on a cross channel ferry last week, and thought I'd watch Prometheus in their 'Cinema*'- I don't know what the source was, but would imagine that once films are distributed to these smaller set-ups (optical disc or proprietry DRM'ed watermarked format?) pirates will waste no time in snagging a copy.
*Don't bother. The projector mount resonated with the vibrations of the ferry, there was a green hue to the right of the image, dark areas (of which there are many in Prometheus) were barely visible, and the screen, though a fair size in 4:3, was used in 16:9 and appeared no bigger than most people's TVs these days. A dodgy copy on my laptop would have been a more immersive experience, so I walked out for a refund before the main title credits started.
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Saturday 8th September 2012 14:00 GMT Dave 126
Re: That's probably why they're starting with Promethius
Ripley, Ellen: Just tell me one thing, Burke. You're going out there to destroy those DVDs, right? Not to study. Not to bring back. But to wipe them out.
Burke,Carter J: That's the plan. You have my word...
Ripley, Ellen: Then I'm in.
***
Burke,Carter J: It was a bad call.
Ripley, Ellen: BAD CALL???? THESE VIEWERS ARE DEAD BURKE!!!! DONT YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOUVE DONE HERE?!?!?!
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Friday 7th September 2012 11:00 GMT AdamSweetman
Actually a genius idea
Given that the high quality pirated versions generally get circulated as the discs get near repo (1-2 weeks before retail availability), this 4 week lead time above physical media could potentially lead more people to buy the legitimate version vs. take the torrent then not buy the disk.
Of course, they have to get the pricing attractive, but none the less this is a solid strategy.
UV is by far and away the least contained approach to DRM usage, its built around how MOST people will actually want to consume/use the media. UV in combination with accelerated release time could be a winner.
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Friday 7th September 2012 11:16 GMT blcollier
Re: Actually a genius idea
If it were a worldwide release, that is... But no, this goes back to the old days of bending the rest of the world over a table and forcefully rogering us.
All they're doing, as others have pointed out, is giving pirates yet another medium from which to obtain a DRM-free digital copy (that is, assuming they can break the DRM employed by this system, which is likely a correct assumption).
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Friday 7th September 2012 11:26 GMT Anonymous Coward
Re: Actually a genius idea
Except that given the apparent ability to break encryption that some people seem to have all that will probably happen is that the pirated version will also be available earlier. Minus the DRM of course, the presence of which would be a deal breaker for me.
*ANY* DRM system that relies on accessing external accounts could end up with people having to buy stuff again if those accounts ever disappear (as has already happened in the past). The wide range of companies supporting this scheme in this case might make that unlikely in the short term, but given the media industry's fondness for us buying VHS videos, then buying those same videos in DVD format, then again on Blue-ray I personally wouldn't put it past them to abandon one scheme in favour of a 'better' one, especially if this one ends up being shown to be insecure (you only need to look as far as the publishing industry and the issue of forcing libraries to re-purchase ebooks to know what sort of thinking is going on inside the minds of the executives in terms of how they regard the users of their products).
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Friday 7th September 2012 11:08 GMT Lee Dowling
Sounds more like two fingers to Netflix than it does anything USEFUL for consumers.
Digital goes first, so again customers waiting for the DVD get screwed. How about this: SIMULTANEOUS RELEASE. I know it's a hard concept but I'm sure you can work it out in 2012, what with Google Calendar and everything.
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Friday 7th September 2012 11:30 GMT Anonymous Coward
The netflix catalog in the US is different to the one provided to UK customers. Try establishing a VPN connection to the US and you'll see the difference (what's even more irritating is the presence of certain BBC programs that are available on Netflix in the US, but not the UK - such as the new Sherlock for example).
Given the abysmal state of the programs available in the UK I wonder how much longer we'll have to wait to be able to watch it on Netflix over here?
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Friday 7th September 2012 11:30 GMT Fuzz
endless rental
I passed on the chance to see this in the cinema because the reviews were mixed. I'd like to see the film but I don't want to buy it. I'll probably watch it once.
I don't need it before the DVD release either, I'll happily wait.
Just let me watch the film once, in HD with decent sound for a reasonable (£2-3) cost. If I can buy the film to watch as much as I like for £10 this seems reasonable to watch it once.
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Monday 10th September 2012 10:25 GMT Ian 55
Re: endless rental
Quite. Today's £19.99 'premium release' is tomorrow's £3 bargain bin item, the next day's £1 charity shop find, and the next week's newspaper cover disk.
Oh, the only way I'm paying anything for Prometheus is if it's a proper 'director's cut' edit and has a commentary with Ridley Scott saying "sorry" a lot to anyone who paid to see the theatrical release.
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Friday 7th September 2012 11:56 GMT Keith_C
Re: endless rental
If you have an Xbox 360 you can do exactly this with the Zune service; 1080p (yes, p) downloads (and streaming with a >6Mbit/s connection) with 5.1 DD sound. Have to say it's absolutely fine for most of *my* viewing needs, and only costs ~£4 for a HD rental.
As a result, I have more Bluray drives in the house than I do discs - I just don't feel the need to buy films these days...
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Friday 7th September 2012 12:24 GMT Anonymous Coward
If anyone actually wanted the downloaded version rather than the disc(s) then they'd already be obtaining it. The fact that there has to be a 'special incentive' to get the downloaded version tends to indicate it's not really wanted ...
I'll stick with my carefully produced packaging and ability to store a long-life copy of my films on a convenient shelf please.
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Friday 7th September 2012 13:20 GMT Anonymous Coward
I'm getting tired
Personally, I am tired of all this madness. The endless debates, the arrogance of the studios (and of many of the consumers). The "you must consume it only in the way we serve it" approach.
As a matter of personal choice, I just decided to consume less of that. There are so many books - many even out of copyright, so free.
I'm reading more and watching less. I am happy with that. It's my choice.
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Saturday 8th September 2012 12:05 GMT TheOtherHobbes
Re: I'm getting tired
Well said, sir or madam.
Hollywood doesn't have a piracy problem - it has a problem with shitty moronic Recycled Cliche Part 29 OMGCGIBBQ!!1!! craptacles.
It's obvious management has total contempt for audiences. So it's not a surprise if audiences return that contempt and go find something interesting to do instead.
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Friday 7th September 2012 22:06 GMT mickey mouse the fith
Iv got to the point where I cant even be bothered to make any effort to watch films anymore. Last time I went to the cinema there were so many adverts (nearly half a bloody hour of the things before the film started) that by the time the film started I was bored and disinterested. Then, halfway through the film, another 20 mins of adverts.
I will probably never go again, it cost a tenner and compared to watching at home, the experience was utter shite.
Judging by the empty seats (only 4 of us in the entire cinema 2 days after the film opened) a lot of other people felt the same.
As for this, no thanks, Il wait till its on telly or available via torrent. No way im paying for a drm infested file that probably has so many restrictions as to render it pointless, and probably unusable in a few years when they shut off the drm servers.
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Monday 10th September 2012 10:53 GMT Anonymous Coward
I've never seen an intermission in the middle before! I must admit I tend to get in to the cinemas fairly late these days to try and avoid adverts, if it's a new release.
That said, that's about the only time I ever see any advertising... all the rest is adblocked on the PC. I never watch TV, or read papers (done online). About the only things I occasionally see are on public transport but I tend to phase that out as well.
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Saturday 8th September 2012 11:39 GMT Anonymous Coward
You may share your UltraViolet account with up to 5 other people (Account Members), and each Member can have their own username/password log-in information.
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Each Member of your UltraViolet Account will also be able to see the activity of each other Member of your UltraViolet Account (including you), and that activity may include information on which digital content you and other Members have obtained UltraViolet rights to, where those rights were obtained, and what UltraViolet content particular Members have viewed or are viewing at any given time.
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including the titles of the UltraViolet content you stream and the time at which such UltraViolet content was streamed
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DECE also shares your personal information and UltraViolet usage information with the retailers from which you obtain UltraViolet content
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correlating your usage information with other data to gain a better understanding of usage patterns, and (v) unless you direct otherwise, make recommendations of UltraViolet content that may interest you.
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for the privacy practices of an UltraViolet Licensee from whom you may obtain products or services, you should check the website of that UltraViolet Licensee. An Ultra Violet Licensee may function as an Ultra Violet Service Provider.
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