Apple Inc. is picking a new fight. This time against video-on-demand services from cable companies and satellite TV operators. According to Financial Times, the company is in talks with Hollywood’s biggest movie studios for a possible partnership on a new online film rental service.
In this new service, a 30-day rental would cost about $3 and allows buyers to move these films from a computer to just one device like iPod. Apple’s digital rights-management software will protect these films from being copied.
Movie studios include Sony Pictures Entertainment, 20th Century Fox, Paramount, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Warner Bros and Disney. All companies declined to comment on this venture.
Earlier, some movie studios expressed their concerns against tie-up with Apple for selling films, believing that digital downloading will significantly hurt DVD sales. This new concept of online film rental service, on the other hand, strongly appeals to these groups.
Originally posted on June 11, 2007 @ 1:59 am