Amazon, TiVo Test New Movie Download Service
Link: Amazon, TiVo Test New Movie Download Service
Online retailer Amazon.com Inc. and TiVo Inc. are testing a service which enables users to watch videos rented or bought over the Internet directly on televisions.
The service is inline with a growing trend to link personal computers and TVs.
The partnership with TiVo strengthen’s Amazon’s Unbox download service, and gives it the edge on Wal-mart’s video download service or Apple Inc.’s iTunes, which allow downloads to computers or portable devices.
Customers will be able to download movies and TV shows from “Amazon Unbox on TiVo” from their computer to a TiVo box, which they will then be able to playback on their television set.
The Unbox service gives TiVo another product to differentiate its video-recording technology from the generic digital video recorders offered by cable and satellite providers.
TiVo subscribers pay about $18 a month for the service, which lets users watch Internet video and listen to music and has security features for children.
Unbox will allow TiVo subscribers to rent or buy films and TV shows from studios and networks including CBS, News Corp.’s Fox Entertainment Group, General Electric Co.-controlled Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Time Warner Inc.’s Warner Bros. Entertainment.
TV episodes will be available to buy for $1.99 and most movies for between $9.99 and $14.99. Purchased videos are stored in a customer’s personal are at Amazon.com, for further access. Movies can also be rented at prices starting at $1.99.
Amazon and TiVo are testing the new system on more than 1.5 million TiVo boxes with high-speed Internet connections.
