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NEW TECHNOLOGIES UK

Universal launches new DTO service

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Universal Pictures UK has teamed up with LOVEFILM, Europe’s largest online DVD rental and Video On Demand (VOD), operator to launch the UK’s first-ever major movie download to own (DTO) service this week.

This revolutionary new service enables any customer in the UK to download digital versions of a film from the Internet to their PCs or laptops, to view a copy of the film on a portable device and to own a DVD of the same title all for the special launch price of £19.99 (€28.8). The advantage for the customer is that he or she can indefinitely own two permanent download files of the film alongside the DVD copy, and the DTO films are available much sooner – on the same day as the DVD release.

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In comparison, VOD content is available in the pay-per-view TV window of approximately three months after the DVD release. The digital delivery of the DTO film is made via Arts Alliance Media’s secure distribution system and is also available at www.aol.co.uk

The first film offered for DTO since last Monday was Peter Jackson’s blockbuster King Kong, and another 34 Universal titles will follow, including Pride & Prejudice [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
, Serenity, Doom [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
and Nanny McPhee [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
.

Universal is the first Hollywood studio to launch a direct-to-consumer electronic sell-through distribution model in the UK. "Download-to-own has the potential to completely revolutionize the way people watch movies", said Peter Smith, President of Universal Pictures International. "The entertainment industry is changing rapidly, with the introduction of new delivery channels to consumers and an emphasis on instant access. We are delighted to enable more people to access Universal content in such a unique and flexible way".

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