Linda Nelson

Movie Download Wars: Wal Mart Grasping at Straws

MovieLink and CinemaNow only offer studio films. The market for sophisticated independent films is huge, as evidenced by the large number of indie titles on Netflix. The best source for downloading to own or rent right now is Amazon.com's Unbox service. With one click, I can download content to my ZEN (mobile video iPod-like device, but ten times better). I can watch full length films (that download in about 40 minutes) either on the go or I can plug it into my TV and watch DVD quality on the "big screen". The ZEN acts like a DVR, but it's totally portable. Services like MovieLink only download or stream content that can be watched on a PC. Boring. HP will be supplying the infastructure and branded websites for downloading for companies like Walmart. Netflix's streaming is also not interesting, as it isn't mobile. By the way, EZTakes.com offers a download to own service that will let you burn a DVD that plays in your TV's regular DVD player. VOD is going to be huge and people will want the flixibility to watch it when and where they want. Those that get it right will do killler business. My film, Shifted, was the first indie title on Unbox. Independent filmmakers can make their title available for download on Amazon.com's service by using Customflix (www.customflix.com) Check it out. You'll my film on the ZEN and if you click on the ZEN you can see how easy it is for filmmakers to get their content up on the service. iTunes is missing the boat in this respect, as the video iPod is an inferior product and kids still like to go to the theater - it's a cheap date. Overall box office and attendance is down two years in a row and DVD sales are flat as a pancake. VOD is future, not necessarily on PC's but anywhere, anytime.