Apple Introduces $4.99 Movies on iTunes

[Vincent Ferrari]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://theappleblog.com/2008/11/11/movies-for-499-as-apple-intros-movies-of-the-week/' target='_blank'>http://theappleblog.com/2008/11/11/...es-of-the-week/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Joining the ranks of their 99&cent; movie rentals and mirroring their "Albums of the Week" for bargain hunters, Apple has introduced "Movies of the Week" on iTunes. Each movie will be available for the duration of the week at a lowered price of $4.99 to own. To kick it off they're highlighting Terminator 2: Judgment Day as the "movie of the week" and offering an additional nine titles: Total Recall, Last Action Hero, Red Heart, Air America, Basic Instinct, St. Elmo's Fire, The Karate Kid, Air Force One, A Guy Thing"</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1226498128.usr18053.jpg" border="1" width="425" height="634" /></p><p>Not a bad deal, honestly.&nbsp; $4.99 - $9.99 is probably a lot closer to what digital download movies should cost anyway.&nbsp; I have a feeling this is a test balloon for Apple, and if this takes off, they're going to push studios to accept lower per-purchase prices on iTunes.&nbsp; Do any of you see this as an opportunity to try out the iTunes store or are you just not interested?</p>

[ucfgrad93]

I've purchased a couple of movies. I agree that prices between $5-$10 seem to be most appropriate for download movies. At those prices, I might pick a couple of more.

[gmontielh]

That indeed is a more reasonable price. Now it would be more attractive if Apple could provide a subscription service such as Netflix. That would be the deal maker for me to get into Apple TV. I just saw an ad where the new LG BD player connects to Netflix. Come on Apple!

[Vincent Ferrari]

That indeed is a more reasonable price. Now it would be more attractive if Apple could provide a subscription service such as Netflix. That would be the deal maker for me to get into Apple TV. I just saw an ad where the new LG BD player connects to Netflix. Come on Apple!

Seeing how DRM servers are vanishing off the face of the earth in the last few years, the last thing I think we need is another "rent your stuff and own nothing" service. Apple will probably just end up going this way due to market pressure, but I'm not convinced that subscription models are good things for customers in the long run.

[gmontielh]

Vincent, I agree that will be the market pressure. Personally I am for it. And somehow I feel it deters potential piracy as movies become more available. How much it will deter I do not know. But honestly I will not purchase movies from iTunes or any other downloadable source of any kind. I like Netflix that allows me to view the movie first (as a subscriber). That would be a plus for Apple TV. If I like the movie very very much still I rather buy the "hard copy". I like to own the real thing and its paraphernalia even if the movie can be downloaded for free. But that's me.

[ucfgrad93]

I like to own the real thing and its paraphernalia even if the movie can be downloaded for free. But that's me.

I agree for the most part. I have downloaded a couple of movies just to have with me when I travel. At a lower price point, it is a lot more convenient than trying to rip and convert my own dvds.

[Jason Dunn]

I'm not an iTunes user, so I won't be buying these movies, but I definitely do think that when you can get older movies on DVD for $7.99 to $9.99, a digital-only copy for $4.99 is about right.

[Jason Dunn]

Seeing how DRM servers are vanishing off the face of the earth in the last few years, the last thing I think we need is another "rent your stuff and own nothing" service.

I sort of agree with you regarding music - I like to own my music, though I know many people who LOVE their subscription music services - but as someone who's been a long-time Zip.ca customer (think Netflix for Canadians) I think there's big value in a digital movie download rental service. A lot of the time, you're only going to watch a movie once, especially since the ratio of truly awesome movies to crap movies varies from year to year.

Now this is coming from someone who owns 600+ DVDs, so maybe I'm not the best test case. :D