Originally published December 18 2005
Movielink joins five studios to offer movies over the internet
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Movielink is an alternative to illegal piracy, but the movies can only be viewed on a computer or on a TV using a cable. However, recently released devices like the Xbox 360 will allow users to view material on a hard drive more easily.
Movielink, a joint venture of five Hollywood studios to offer movies over the Internet, has signed a deal with Twentieth Century Fox, allowing it to offer movies from all major studios for the first time.
The deal, announced Monday, comes at a time when studios and TV networks are looking at alternative ways to distribute programs, including video on demand and portable devices, such as Apple's iPod.
While Fox has offered some of its content online at sites such as CinemaNow.com, it waited until more homes had high-speed Internet access and could view downloaded movies on large-screen TVs before signing a deal with Movielink.
Movielink and similar legitimate movie download services exist, in part, to offer an alternative to illegal piracy.
But Movielink has yet to become popular, in part because films can only be viewed on a computer or watched on a TV screen using a cable.
But over the next few months, consumer electronics devices, such as the newly released Xbox 360 game console, will allow users to more easily view material stored on a hard drive on a large TV screen.
Studios also are expected to experiment with other business models, including allowing viewers to purchase movies online and burn copies to DVDs.
"The end of 2005 and into 2006 is really a watershed year," said Jim Ramo, chief executive at Movielink.
"I think you're beginning to see a snowball effect."
Fox will make movies such as Robots available and will add more movies over the next few months.
But viewers won't see any of George Lucas' Star Wars films, which Fox distributes in theaters and home video.
Fox does not own the Internet distribution rights to the films.
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