Sam OliverAmong the studios serving up films on the UK store are 20th Century Fox, The Walt Disney Studios, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM), Sony Pictures Television International and Lionsgate UK.
Apple said the service is already pre-loaded with 700 films available for rent or purchase, with titles available for purchase on the same day as their DVD release, including favorites such as “Hitman,†“I Am Legend,†“National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets†and “Into the Wild.†Over 100 titles are also available in high definition for viewing on a widescreen TV with Apple TV.
“We’re kicking off movies on the iTunes Store in the UK with over 700 films for purchase and rent,†said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of iTunes. “We think customers in the UK are going to love being able to enjoy their favorite movies on their iPod, iPhone or on a widescreen TV with Apple TV.
In Canada, Apple said over 1,200 films are available for rent or purchase, including 200 titles in high definition. Movies are available from all the same studios as those in the UK, with the addition of those from Canadian film house Maple Pictures.
With iTunes Movie Rentals, once a movie is rented, it starts downloading from the iTunes Store directly to iTunes or Apple TV, and users with a fast Internet connection can start viewing the movie in seconds. Customers have up to 30 days to start watching it, and once a movie has been started customers have 48 hours to finish it—or watch it multiple times.
In the UK, iTunes movies are available at £6.99 for library title purchases and £10.99 for new releases. iTunes Movie Rentals are £2.49 for library title rentals and £3.49 for new releases, and high definition versions are priced at just one pound more.
In Canada, iTunes movies are available at CAN$9.99 for catalog title purchases, CAN$14.99 for recent releases and CAN$19.99 for new releases. iTunes Movie Rentals are CAN$3.99 for library titles and CAN$4.99 for new releases, with high definition rental versions priced just one dollar more.
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31 Comments
TWENTY BUCKS for a digital download movie? Are they nuts? I'd buy the odd one if they were around the current rental price to purchase, but these prices just send me right back to the Pirate Bay.
Customers have up to 30 days to start watching it, and once a movie has been started customers have 48 hours to finish it?or watch it multiple times.
48 hours! When will this come to the US store?
(Note: I recognize that UK and Canada are paying higher prices compared to US. I don't think it's higher because of the 48 hours, but simply that the cost in those countries for content is usually higher.)
Why are we waiting?
Why-y are we waiting
Why are we waiting oh
why why why....
Hello!?!
Remember us!?!
The coalition of the willing!?!
iPhones and movies please!?!
I've read these forums for a long, long time but never decided to register. Occasionally, someone has said something that I have feverishly disagreed with and made me want to join in... but I resisted. :P However, this is so fantastic and so very annoying all at once.
I have wanted an Apple TV since the idea of renting movies came about. I found that to be a very exciting prospect... and quickly realised that Apple didn't have any contracts in place to offer films in the UK, so I decided not to bother. And now, they have released them! I think the pricing of rentals is perfectly fair... however, and I'm not one that usually moans about how everything is cheaper in the US and boo hoo, not at all. However... the US received a *price cut* for this product. Not just a lower price from the off, but a price cut. Is the UK product better? Is it lined with platinum? No! I am desperate to get an Apple TV now... but I simply won't until they cut the price. It's £199, or $229... that's one hell of a difference. It really is.
I've read these forums for a long, long time but never decided to register. Occasionally, someone has said something that I have feverishly disagreed with and made me want to join in... but I resisted. :P However, this is so fantastic and so very annoying all at once.
I have wanted an Apple TV since the idea of renting movies came about. I found that to be a very exciting prospect... and quickly realised that Apple didn't have any contracts in place to offer films in the UK, so I decided not to bother. And now, they have released them! I think the pricing of rentals is perfectly fair... however, and I'm not one that usually moans about how everything is cheaper in the US and boo hoo, not at all. However... the US received a *price cut* for this product. Not just a lower price from the off, but a price cut. Is the UK product better? Is it lined with platinum? No! I am desperate to get an Apple TV now... but I simply won't until they cut the price. It's £199, or $229... that's one hell of a difference. It really is.
Try living in Australia where the AUD$ is currently at about US$0.95!!
40GB AppleTV AUD$449!!! 160GB AUD$579!!!!
In the US they are US$229 (AUD$239!!!??!!!!) and US$329 (AUD$343!!!!!!???!!!)
And we can't even use the damn things properly!!!
No movies or TV shows on offer!
The shipping is from Asia not the US, so that can't be the reason...
Maybe ours are lined with oil and gold and platinum, because that is one hefty markup...