CinemaNow Launches DVD Download and Burn Service

WebKnowHow
Thursday, July 20, 2006; 05:32 AM

CinemaNow, Inc., an Internet provider of on-demand videos, launched a beta service that offers DVD content for secure download and burn through its Web site (www.cinemanow.com). The new service offers consumers in the United States a first: the ability to legally download copy protected movies and other video content and burn it to DVD for playback in a standard DVD player. Content initially available for the "Burn to DVD" service includes selected movies and videos from Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Lionsgate, MGM Worldwide Digital Media, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, EagleVision and Sundance Channel.

"Today, our customers will experience a true innovation in home entertainment: the ability to obtain a DVD in the comfort of their living room," said Curt Marvis, CEO of CinemaNow. "Since CinemaNow was founded in 1999, our mission has been to provide our customers with convenient access to video content. This is a historic day for CinemaNow and we are at the forefront of digital video distribution."

CinemaNow customers can choose from more than 100 titles which they can purchase for Burn to DVD. Customers will have the ability to download the complete movie and video in addition to added value elements available with a standard DVD, such as full graphic menus, 5.1 surround sound, special features, language and commentary tracks and all bonus materials available on traditional retail DVDs.

Once the CinemaNow customer downloads the DVD, they can choose to play the file back on their PC using their Windows Media Player and have access to all of the DVD features including full menu functionality. The customer can also choose to burn one copy of the file to a blank DVD+R or DVD-R writable disc using his/her computer's internal or external DVD writer. While the file is downloading and burning, customers can minimize the application and perform other operations online. Once burned, the DVD can be played in virtually any DVD player with full remote control navigation and access to all of the special features. Prices for DVDs start at $8.99 and include printable DVD label and cover art.

Included among titles initially offered on a download and burn basis are "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle," "Scent of a Woman" and "Barbershop." CinemaNow expects to add both new and catalog DVDs from a variety of content licensors in the coming months.

The CinemaNow Burn to DVD service is based on fluxDVD, a technology for secure online DVD distribution. "With this new service virtually everyone can enjoy online DVDs on his PC or his existing DVD Player wherever and whenever he wants it," said Volkmar Breitfeld, Managing Director of ACE GmbH, the creators of fluxDVD.