MovieBeam Delivers Hi-Def Video On Demand
According to Reuters, it looks like the promise of Hi-Def Video on Demand is finally becoming a reality. MovieBeam, a video on demand service spun out of Walt Disney Co., is introducing their home Hi-Definition movie delivery service with the backing of top Hollywood and Silicon Valley partners. Six of the seven major film studios are signed on for the service. While most of the films will be offered in standard definition format, those coming from Warner Brothers and Disney studios will be available in Hi-Def format. The service will initially launch in 29 US cities including New York, Chicago and Los Angeles with pricing in line with what you’d expect to pay at Blockbuster. First run movies will go for $3.99 ($4.99 for Hi-Def) and catalog titles will go for $1.99 ($2.99 for Hi-Def).
In order to rent the films, customers will have to purchase a Linksys box that will have the capacity to store up to 100 movies. The box is expected to be around $200 after a rebate and you’ll have to pay a $29 activiation fee. The box also comes with a small antenna to receive the MovieBeam proprietary broadcast signals. Rather than use the internet for delivery, MovieBeam is using a technology called datacasting which will send up to 10 new movies a week to the Linksys box. The signal will travel over the Public Broadcasting System network. MovieBeam made the decision to use this network to eliminate bottlenecks associated with Internet based delivery. It looks like the promise of the future is beginning to come home.
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