Lionsgate announced today that it is working with Apple to provide Digital Copy for iTunes, affording customers who purchase select DVDs with an additional iTunes 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 widescreen television with Apple TV.
The first Lionsgate DVDs to debut with iTunes Digital Copy will be the special edition DVD and Blu-ray releases of “Rambo,” the latest installment in the popular action franchise starring Sylvester Stallone and “The Eye,” the supernatural thriller starring Jessica Alba. “Rambo” will be available at retail May 27th and “The Eye” will be released on DVD this summer. Lionsgate and Apple will deliver numerous additional Lionsgate films on DVD with iTunes Digital Copy later this year.
“Digital Copy for iTunes is a perfect example of how packaged media and new digital technology can work hand in hand for the benefit of our consumers,” said Steve Beeks, President and co-Chief Operating Officer of Lionsgate, in the press release. “Lionsgate is constantly identifying fresh opportunities to monetize its 12,000-title filmed entertainment library in an increasingly digital world and provide product that is at the very cutting edge of consumer taste. Our consumers are always looking for new viewing options in terms of the motion pictures they buy, and we are always searching for new ways to deliver content in formats that reflect consumer preference across the entire home entertainment spectrum, from packaged media to digital storage to VOD. Building on our longstanding partnership with Apple, Digital Copy for iTunes is yet another innovation designed to provide the consumer with added value while continuing to expand our range of home entertainment choices.”
“We are excited that Lionsgate is delivering so many of their great films on DVD and Blu-ray with an iTunes Digital Copy,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of iTunes, in the press release. “Now movie fans can easily transfer a copy of many Lionsgate films onto iTunes and bring it with them on their iPod or iPhone.”
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, he or she inserts it into their computer, enters a unique code into iTunes, and the movie is automatically copied to their iTunes library. 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 widescreen television with Apple TV. Each DVD will only transfer its iTunes Digital Copy to one iTunes library. An iTunes account is required.
Lionsgate already features a wide variety of movies for rental and purchase on the iTunes Store including such recent hit releases as the critically-acclaimed Western “3:10 to Yuma,” the outrageous comedy “Good Luck Chuck” and the action film “War” in addition to classic Lionsgate library titles including “Dirty Dancing” and “Reservoir Dogs” as well as celebrated television programming such as Lionsgate’s hit comedy series Weeds.
Lionsgate remains at the cutting edge of adopting new digital technologies for its current releases and its vast filmed entertainment library. The Company was one of the first studios to support the fast-growing Blu-ray high definition format, and Lionsgate was the first to release product on DVD-9, DVD-18, DVD+CD, the first to utilize Microsoft Windows Media 9 and one of the leaders in acquiring VOD rights throughout its catalog. Lionsgate has also been at the cutting edge of supporting technologies designed to foster the adoption, efficiency and quality of digital downloads throughout the motion picture and television marketplace.
Lionsgate is the leading independent filmed entertainment studio and is a premier producer and distributor of motion picture, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment, video-on-demand and digitally- delivered content. Its prestigious and prolific library of nearly 12,000 motion picture titles and television episodes is a stable source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company’s core businesses. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the globe.
Source: Lionsgate
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Brando Drinker” for the heads up.]
MDN: “delect DVD’s” in title should be “select DVD’s”. Typo. Happesn to all fo us.
Some people call me Ray. Some people call me Jay. Some people call me Ray Jay, but you can call me Blu-Ray!
@GizmoDan
“Happesn” should be happens..
maybe that was a pun, if so, I laugh
@ GizmoDan and MDN:
While you’re at it, DVD’s should be DVDs (no apostrophe).
“all fo us” should be “all of us”
> maybe that was a pun, if so, I laugh
Same here
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“it’s” should be “tits”
Amparwannabe…
The little grey dot which follows certain posters names denotes our status as being “registered” with MDN.
You lack the little grey dot and therefore lack credibility.
To the impostor Ampar:
Not even close. Stay in school. But thanks for being obsessed with me. It says a lot about you.
maybe they are “delectable” DVDs…
i am SHCKOED at teh flaqigrint tyops on thsi sight.
@ Ampar
Remember, imitation is the lamest form of flattery.
YES! YES! YES! This is the way it should be done. THAT’s what I’m talkin’ about.
Yes, and when you get through all the PR mumbo jumbo it’s just another form of copy protection. I feel so protected…from myself. In fact I think when go next teach my next class I’ll ask for royalties for my own research.
@C1.. nah… imitation is the lamest form of intelligence.
Physical media is dead. Digital distribution is the future. Or at least it would be if ISPs didn’t try to screw the consumer over at every opportunity in North America.
Great to hear digital copies are becoming more and more prevalent!
However, there’s this bit that sounds logical but needs clarification:
“Each DVD will only transfer its iTunes Digital Copy to one iTunes library.”
Will this allow you to transfer the rights to a new iTunes library, if you de-authorize the first one? Otherwise what happens when you replace your current computer (stolen, upgrade, etc)?
@ChrissyOne
I actually laughed out loud at your typo post. Thanks.
More importantly, can these digital copies also be played on Apple TV? One would think so…
And how are we going to get these digital copies into our iTunes without a Blu-ray drive? They must be just around the corner.
Why is marketing boilerplate so boring to read?
I guess it’s too much to ask for the Blu-ray digital copy to be HD?