Live Free DVD offers downloadable movie files

Title will be first, followed by Harry Potter

By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 10/16/2007

OCT. 16 | 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment will include on its Live Free or Die Hard DVD a digital file of the movie that can be downloaded from the disc to a PC or portable device.

Fox’s announcement was the second in a week regarding studio efforts to marry digital file distribution and packaged media.

Warner Home Video will include downloadable movie files on its Dec. 11 DVD Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Warner was the first studio to announce such a digital/physical hybrid, though Fox’s disc will street first, on Nov. 20.

The digital Live Free copy will come in two versions, one for the PC and one for portable video players featuring Microsoft Windows’ PlaysForSure technology. However, the file’s digital rights management is currently not compatible for playback on Apple products, such as video iPods.

Fox hopes the digital copy offering fits changing consumer tastes, while at the same time protecting the home theater experience. The Live Free copy will feature just the film, not any of the DVD’s bonus features.

“This meets the demands of today’s consumer—[people] are now going to electronic sell-through or video-on-demand,” said Danny Kaye, Fox executive VP of worldwide research and technology strategy. “This file isn’t designed for viewing on a TV. But this gives consumers both choices [digital and traditional] in one place.”

In an advantage over many sell-through services, the Live Free file can be transferred onto computers and/or portable devices for viewing in just five minutes. A typical feature-length video from CinemaNow, for example, will take about an hour to download.

Consumers access their Live Free copy by placing the second disc into a computer. They will then be prompted about their transfer options to PC or portable device. Prior to receiving the copy, users will have to register their DVD’s individualized serial code found inside the case.

Fox management is not concerned that the copy offering will flood the market with used Live Free physical discs, as consumers could be tempted to sell back DVDs after retrieving the film copy. The file is mainly intended to boost the convenience of the overall product, said Kaye.

“Putting a digital copy on the disc allows the consumer a different way to experience the programming and a way to watch it however they want,” said Kaye. “The primary film will be for their home theater systems.”