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Twentieth Century Fox & Apple Introduce iTunes Digital Copy

FG-DC.jpg
Family Guy image provided by 20th Century Fox
Fox and Apple announced Digital Copy for iTunes at MacWorld, which includes a digital version on the DVD, and allows you to watch the movie on an iPod, iPhone, the computer, and an AppleTV. The first title to use the iTunes Digital Copy is Family Guy: Blue Harvest; Fox used Digital Copy for their release of Live Free or Die Hard, and Warner Bros used it for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, but they weren't files created for playback within iTunes.

iTunes Digital Copy allows consumers to transfer a DVD purchase to iTunes by entering a unique code into iTunes which then automatically copies the movie to their iTunes library. The digital copy of the DVD has the same viewing options as other iTunes content, and each DVD will only transfer its iTunes Digital Copy to one iTunes library.

Fox has plans to use iTunes Digital Copy for other upcoming titles, including Hitman, which will be released in April.

Are you more likely to purchase a title that includes a digital copy of the film for your iPod? — Gord Lacey

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Posted by The DVD Team
Jan 15, 2008 6:48 PM
I don't think I'm more likely to buy a DVD with a digital copy on it, but it is a nice feature (since I'm one of the few that own an AppleTV right now). I'll buy a DVD if I love the movie--whether the digital copy is on there or not. But I think it's great that Fox understands that people want to be able to view their entertainment content in more than just the traditional way. I'd rather not carry a bulky portable DVD player with me on a plane to watch a movie during a flight--especially if I'd carry my iPhone with me anyway. And placing a digital copy of a movie on my iTunes allows me an "on demand" type experience using my AppleTV, where the on demand selection is made up of only movies I like. No digging around my overcrowded shelf to find that one elusive DVD.

Even if I'm not more likely to buy a DVD with a digital copy, I do think that this measure will prevent people from turning away from DVDs in favor of downloading movies only. Eventually (although we're not there yet), downloading movies will be the norm, whether it be by computer or by some set top box. To encourage people to still buy the physical copy of the DVD (which I'm sure makes them more money than a digital download), it may be best for studios to acknowledge the fact that portability and versatility are where things are headed. I think many people will appreciate both the physical DVD (as a backup and a source for extras), and the ability to watch the movie anywhere using portable devices.
Posted by soundscene
Jan 16, 2008 1:38 PM
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