Vudu to offer Bourne download along with DVD release
updated 11:50 pm EST, Mon December 10, 2007
Vudu gets Bourne Ultimatum
Hollywood studios are taking a chance on the Vudu set-top box by granting the service the right to distribute the first of many major movies simultaneously with the official DVD release. The Bourne Ultimatum will be available Tuesday for rent or purchase, in standard and high definition. Universal Pictures is one of a few studios that have agreed to sell high definition content through the Vudu box, though there are not many titles currently available, in contrast to the 5000 standard definition titles that Vudu offers. Vudu sells the set-top box for $400, with rentals ranging from $1 to $5.
The Vudu box is designed to be used with standard or high definition televisions, requiring a 1.5-megabit internet connection for downloading purchased movies or a 3-megabit connection for streaming rentals. The high definition video market is a little uncertain currently, as HD-DVD and Blu-ray battle for market dominance. By providing high definition movies digitally, users can side-step either format and just get the content directly from the Vudu video service.
"Universal is committed to providing new and innovative entertainment experiences for consumers," said Craig Kornblau, President of Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures Digital. "VUDU's breakthrough technology speaks to the evolving digital distribution market and is a perfect way for Bourne fans to get the best motion pictures in superior home video quality in the timeliest manner possible."
$5 for a rental?
12/11, 08:45am reply
They are kidding, right?
mgpalma
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2000
Universal is trying hard
12/11, 08:50am reply
not to use iTunes. Good luck with all these ventures.
leamanc
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2003
$19.99 to buy??????
12/11, 08:55am reply
$20 to buy the movie is ridiculous as well as the rental fee without all the extras on DVD and HD-DVD. $400 for the unit, and we thought AppleTV was expensive. Wow!
lemuel777
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2004
if they worry about money
12/11, 09:34am reply
shouldn't they be getting to as many DIFFERENT platforms as possible? seems like poor planning to say "we'll avoid the largest network (iTunes) out there to see if we can make money on this relatively unknown one; damn, it didn't work so online video MUST be a failure"...
legacyb4
Mac Elite
Joined: May 2001
not as pricey as apple tv
12/11, 10:11am reply
$5 for a rental seems pretty reasonable for a high def rental. Cheaper than the Xbox.
$20 to buy the movie in high def is about the right price point. The MSRP for HD-DVD is $39.98. Even if you buy it "reduced" at Amazon it will cost you $27.95 + shipping. Oh yeah and you have to wait for it to be delivered, vudu is high-def video on demand.
Apple TV is ridiculously expensive compared to vudu. The vudu has a 250GB HDD, versus Apple TV's 160GB hdd for the same price. Movies on Apple tv are $12.99 for older standard def movies - a new (high def) release for $20 isn't bad compared to this. Oh yeah, you dont need a computer and Itunes for vudu either - meaning its Grandma/Mom/Little Brother friendly.
The one barrier to Vudu's mass adoption will be the unit price IMHO. But if you look around you can get it cheaper than the $399. Even on vudu.com if you order right now you get $50 off in movie cedits.
steveybaby
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Joined: Dec 2007
hi-def
12/11, 10:36am reply
When's Apple getting hi-def content?
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Studio Greed
12/11, 10:37am reply
Gotta agree with legacyb4, steveybaby. No way am I paying $20 to download. I can get the complete packaged product for that if I wait a bit after the release date.
And no way are those other prices in line with reality.
This will undoubtedly fail in the long term, leaving the greedy b******* at the studios with no choice but to keep trying to pull money out of our pockets in every possible way... other than using iTunes.
jcatma61
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Joined: Nov 2006
Plus Dolby Digital 5.1
12/11, 10:39am reply
Audio Format
Source: Dolby® Digital Plus Out: Dolby Digital 5.1
Video Resolution
1080p/24 1080i 720p 480p 480i
OzarkMtn
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Feb 2001
$5 for HD rental.......
12/11, 11:09am reply
...NetFlix offers HD rental at under $10 per month for all the HD movies you want. I can watch about 8 per month for less than $10 - a bargain.
psdenno
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2003
no shame, no pride...
12/11, 12:04pm reply
That's all I have to say -- just like another poster said, it's a question if it's even worth the lawsuit.
ZinkDifferent
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2005