Web Brings New Films Into Homes With Online Downloading Service
(U-WIRE) NORMAN, Okla. - Five major film studios recently launched a Web site for downloading movies, but several University of Oklahoma students said they would not use the service for various reasons.
The top three reasons many OU students mentioned why they would not use the new services included the availability of pirated movies online, the preference for watching movies on a television screen as opposed to a computer monitor and many Web sites' pricing scheme.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Universal Studios and Warner Bros, are all involved in a joint venture offering an on-demand video service via the World Wide Web. The service began offering films online last November.
The Web site, called Movielink, offers Internet users a variety of recently released films for download at a fee ranging from $2.99 to $4.99. Some movies promoted on the site include the Academy Award winning "A Beautiful Mind" and the comedy "Orange County," starring Jack Black and Colin Hanks.
For a fee, per each film watched, Movielink customers can download the film, after which they will have a 24-hour period to watch the film before the file erases itself from the hard drive. Industry spokespeople from the five studios said Movielink offers computer savvy movie buffs with fast Internet connections a viable alternative to the video store market.
"We and our partners are pleased to be at the forefront of the groundbreaking endeavor, bringing box-office hits to consumers via the Internet, complementing our existing distribution alternatives," said Jonathan Dolgen, chairman of Viacom Entertainment Group, in a statement. "With this service, we can successfully deliver quality content to movie enthusiasts, providing them with greater choices and access ... to receive their filmed entertainment."
OU psychology junior Adam Daniel Stockley said the availability of free, pirated copies of movies on the Web may keep people from using the new Web site.
"The idea of the site is cool, but to tell you the truth you can pretty much get anything you want online," Stockley said.
"I don't think a lot of people would opt to actually pay if they could just not pay and have the same thing forever."
OU construction science junior Christopher Yokley said the new Web site has no appeal for him because he prefers watching movies on his television.
"I'd rather watch movies on a TV because of the bigger screen," Yokley said.
"I guess it would be cool if you were watching films by yourself, but would a group of people want to sit around and watch a computer monitor?"
While several students said they would prefer to download pirated films for free off the Web or simply prefer renting DVDs, Keith Opelt, a University College freshman, said he would maybe use the Movielink service if the site's fees were different.
Opelt regularly watches DVDs on his computer and downloads movies off the Web, so much so he said his computer is placed on restriction for exceeding file transfer limits.
"I'd download movies if they had a monthly fee, like say $19.99 a month and then you had 24 hours to watch the film," Opelt said. "But I wouldn't pay $4.99 a film for just 24 hours."
Movielink can be found on the World Wide Web at Movielink.com.
Copyright ©2003 The Oklahoma Daily via U-Wire
