Twentieth Century Fox and Apple today announced Digital Copy for iTunes, which provides customers who purchase a DVD with an additional Digital Copy of the movie. Just like movies purchased from the iTunes Store, an iTunes Digital Copy can effortlessly be transferred to iTunes and then viewed on a PC or Mac, iPod with video, iPhone or on Apple TV.
The first DVD to make its debut with iTunes Digital Copy is the Special Edition DVD premiere of the Family Guy “Star Wars” parody, “Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest,” which is being released in stores today. Fox and Apple are planning to deliver many more DVDs with iTunes Digital Copy this year.
“One of the most requested features DVD buyers have been asking for is the ability to get the movies they bought into their iTunes library,” said Jim Gianopulos, chairman and chief executive officer of Fox Filmed Entertainment, in the press release. “We’re thrilled to offer such an incredibly simple way for our customers to get even more out of their DVD purchase, and we look forward to releasing many more DVDs this year with iTunes Digital Copy.”
“Now movie fans can easily transfer a free copy of the movie they purchase on DVD into iTunes,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO, in the press release. “DVDs containing an iTunes Digital Copy allow movie fans to get a copy of their movie which can be viewed on a computer, iPod, iPhone or on Apple TV.”
The new iTunes Digital Copy provides a consumer friendly way to transfer a DVD purchase to a user’s iTunes library. Once a customer buys the DVD, they insert it into their computer, enter a unique code into iTunes and iTunes automatically copies the movie to their iTunes library within minutes. Customers own the iTunes Digital Copy of the movie and it has all of the same great viewing options as other iTunes Store video content, including the ability to be viewed on a computer, iPod with video, iPhone and Apple TV. Each DVD will only transfer its iTunes Digital Copy to one iTunes library.
One of the world’s largest producers and distributors of motion pictures, Fox Filmed Entertainment produces, acquires and distributes motion pictures throughout the world. These motion pictures are produced or acquired by the following units of FFE: Twentieth Century Fox, Fox 2000 Pictures, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Fox Atomic, and Twentieth Century Fox Animation. FFE also includes Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming on VHS, DVD, Blu-ray Disc (BD) and Digital Copy as well as acquisitions and original productions.
Bloody excellent!
Time to get an Apple tv.
This is what I was waiting for, bye bye DVD collection!
Pete,
You still have to buy a DVD.
Hmmm, buy a movie with a digital copy or just rip it for my unlimited viewing pleasure?
Buy a dvd – na!
Who needs dvds?
Considering most people buy a dvd and only watch it afew times in their lifetime it’s far cheaper, better for the environment etc just to rent the digital file.
There is only a few films out of my vast dvd collection that I have watched more than afew times. I wasted my money buying all those dvds that I watch once and then gather dust on the shelves.
I’m buying an Apple tv.
I wonder if the iTunes file is better quality since it is only encoded once. Rather than ripping a DVD which is then encoded twice?
probably encoded by the studio with Handbrake!
I am so happy to read this notice. I’m sick and tired of checking out a DVD and it says to pop it into a Windows DVD drive. Now it can say Windows or Macintosh DVD drive. YES!!!! It also shows that people are starting to think about us Mac users. Although I wouldn’t necessarily copy a DVD onto my Macintosh (and then onto an AppleTV), it’s nice to be able to do so if I want.
Still has some bugs. Family Guy: Blue Harvest gives and error and will not load into iTunes (latest version). I would think this will be fixed soon.
Yeah but can I rent porn?
Alternatively, you can use MTR or Handbrake and just rent a dvd. A good first step but much more is needed. And now back to my holidays.
ipods are really taking over, and its sweet.