Apple Is In Talks With Hollywood For Early Access To Movies On iTunes: Bloomberg (bloomberg.com)

Apple is talking with Hollywood studios to try and get iTunes rentals of movies that are still playing on the big screen. According to a report from Bloomberg, "some studio executives have been pushing to allow home rentals as early as two weeks after theatrical debuts and are considering a deal with iTunes as one option." Bloomberg reports: The most recent talks are part of longer-running efforts by Cupertino, California-based Apple to get new movies sooner, two of the people said. Such an arrangement could help iTunes stand out in a crowded online market for movies, TV shows and music. While the iTunes store helped Apple build a dominant role in music retailing, the company hasn't carved out a similar role in music and video streaming. Hollywood studios typically give theaters exclusive rights to new movies for 90 days or more before issuing them on DVD or making them available for online purchase. One of the concerns about iTunes is whether it will be a secure platform for delivering movies that are still in theaters, the people said. While Apple encrypts iTunes video files so they can't easily be duplicated, it's possible to use a camera to record a movie playing on a TV screen. A leak of picture that's still in theaters would jeopardize returns for the studios and cinema owners.

Comments

Cost

[sit1963nz]

I already severely limit the movies I go and see at the theatre because of cost. I can buy the DVD for half to 2/3 the cost of 2 adults going to see the same movie on the big screen. Nice thing about being willing to wait is that you don't get caught up in the hype and find you have spent good money on a crap film (e.g. Batman vs Superman). Too many movies are now about how many or how big the special effects are, plot, coherence, dialog all be damned. 3D is a fad, it does nothing to improve a crap movie and often ruins a good one. Equally the sound in theatres is often so loud you really wonder if permanent hearing damage has occurred. A DVD can be played multiple times, in any locations that has a DVD player. It can be paused, rewound, replayed, skipped forward all on demand. It can be loaned to friends and family, it can be on sold, it represents far more value than iTunes does. I have NEVER bought a digital download movie and have only ever bought 1 "CD" on iTunes , I prefer to buy physical media that I am in control of. Even better I buy 2nd hand media paying $2-5 for a DVD and less for a CD.