Online digital movie lockers have been fraught with road bumps, Ultra Violet was thought to be the answer, however a new service – Movies Anywhere – spearheaded by Disney could work even better.
The new service is launching in the US initially, though will likely expand globally if successful. It’s based on their Disney Movies Anywhere digital movie platform which served only Disney movies but this new incarnation has been backed by other major Hollywood studios including Sony Pictures Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox Film, Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. Entertainment. It’s a comprehensive list, though Paramount and Lionsgate are notably absent.
The locker will likely work similarly to Ultra-Violet has in the past, with a code being included with movies to be redeemed online. The collation of these major Hollywood Studios means there’s over 7,000 available to be added to your locker, with Amazon Video, Google Play, iTunes and Vudu (A Walmart company) all set up to let you redeem the titles.
Once you’ve connected all your services you should be able to view your entire movie library in one place, either the Movies Anywhere website, or the Movies Anywhere app which will be on both Android and iOS – at this stage no game console apps have been announced.
The initial push will be for people to link accounts with the service, to push it, Disney is giving users who link their accounts access to Ghostbusters (2016) and Ice Age, and if they link a second retailer they will get access to Big Hero 6, Jason Bourne and The Lego Movie as well.
The service will go live in the US tonight around 9pm, but so far no global launch information has been spoken about.
That logo looks familiar.
A someone with relative who still by DVD and Blu-ray for kids this is very welcome. Let’s hope it does indeed make it to Australia.