Movielink goes with Charter
p2pnet.net News:- Movielink – an early Hollywood attempt to scupper p2p file sharing and, not at all incidentally, distributors – went online in November, 2002.
Billed as “the leading source for movies delivered directly over the internet,” it’s For Americans Only, and has been so since Day One in November, 2002.
“We want you to enjoy our powerful movie download experience, but it is presently unavailable to users outside of the United States,” says the site.
Having cut off the rest of the world as potential customers, Movielink now says it’s signed an agreement with cable TV provider Charter Communications to offer a customized movie service to Charter’s high-speed Net subscribers.
“The deal helps expand Movielink’s reach to possible new clients and is a further sign that the fledgling market for legal movie downloads is gaining momentum with Web access providers as one way to enhance their own product,” says a Reuters story here, going on:
“The deal is similar to agreements Movielink has with Time Warner Inc.’s Road Runner Internet service and with units of telecommunications providers SBC Communications Inc and BellSouth Corp.”
It also says customers “rent” a movie for $1.99 to $4.99 depending on the title and can download a movie and “store” it for up to 30 days. Once the movie begins to play, users have 24 hours to finish watching before the file is automatically deleted.
“Movielink consistently declines to comment on usage and customer traffic, and [chief executive Jim] Ramo did not discuss the site’s cash cost to its studio partners or profit forecasts except to say the company remains ‘on track’ with its original business plan,” adds Reuters.
