Ultraviolet

mikemorel · 11-10-2011, 04:56 PM

This place needs an Ultraviolet thread.

Warner Bros. adds UV downloads for 'Harry Potter' disc

Quote:

LOS ANGELES--Warner Bros. has ironed out a short-lived glitch with the film studio's UltraViolet service just in time for the upcoming "Harry Potter" Blu-ray release.

Today, the updated Flixster app enables users to not only stream movies available on UltraViolet, but also download them to iPads and iPhones, a feature that was missing from Warner's initial movie releases on UltraViolet.

UltraViolet is the name of the technology standards and specifications that will enable film fans to store titles on the servers of film distributors, or what is commonly known as the cloud. From now on those who buy UltraViolet films can connect to the Web and watch a streaming version or download the movie to a movie-playing device.

The UltraViolet plan has the backing of five of the six top Hollywood film studios. (Only Disney opted out.)

Last month, Warner Bros. released the film "Horrible Bosses" on UltraViolet, becoming the first studio to adopt the technology. The way it works is that anyone who buys Blu-ray and DVD versions of these UltraViolet films from any retailer receives a redemption code. They can then use the code to receive an additional digital copy of the movie at the Flixster film service, which Warner acquired last spring.

When "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (three-disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) goes on sale tomorrow, buyers will receive access to an additional Flixster copy they can maintain in the Flixster cloud.

Hollywood is looking for ways to entice people to buy movies again. DVD sales are down and the studios hope making the movies easier to access will help spur interest again. Some critics slammed UltraViolet when they couldn't download "Horrible Bosses" to iPads so they could watch offline, but the studio said that the malfunction is in the past and UltraViolet users will have both streaming and download options from now on.

Warner boasts 21 percent of the DVD market, the largest share of any of the major studios.

Interesting...But the Ultraviolet docs state that CFF downloads won't be available until after January 1st. These might be "pseudo" UV downloads.

mikemorel · 11-10-2011, 05:12 PM

From Rovi's 3rd Quarter 2011 Conference Call...

Prepared Remarks:

Quote:

Additionally, the UV functionality we will be providing later this year, we’ll expand beyond PCs and Macs to IOS and Android based devices as well. On the UV front, we are clearly an early leader, being one of the first companies to sign agreements with Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem or DECE.

DECE, which is also known as the ultraviolet alliance is a consortium of major Hollywood studios, consumer electronics manufacturers and retailers in technology vendors, including Rovi.

DECE is chartered to develop a set of standards for the digital distribution of premium Hollywood content. We are also one of the few companies to sign up for multiple UV roles. Rovi signed DECE agreement, paroled as a retail service provider, a locker access streaming provider, a download service provider and as a client implementer. We are also actively negotiating UV and legal DVD copy agreements with most of the major studios and thus are on the cutting edge of defining these distribution rights.

Q&A

Quote:

Ben Swinburne – Morgan Stanley

Okay. And the last question just on UltraViolet issue, you guys mentioned in your prepared remarkes and you said you’re working with the industry on the digital copy process, I heard numbers like 10 billion DVDs on-shelf in the U.S. or in basement wherever they are heading in these days, any comment you can make -- give us in sort of the revenue model for your role in that process. Assuming it’s successful. It would seem like there is a descent opportunity there if you’re primary supplier of the technology?

James Budge

There is. It’s a small number. If you remember where we were with ACP, it’s a cents per disc, you should think about it in the same domain as cents per disc on the legal DVD copy and you are right, there are literally billions of DVDs that are already out there that people can for relatively low charge is the way the current models are being developed by the studios and convert into a electronic environment and store it digitally.

HD Goofnut · 11-10-2011, 05:31 PM

I'll add my

: Ultraviolet stinks.

PSound · 11-10-2011, 05:44 PM

Thanks for starting this up Mike!

I have UltraViolet copies of Horrible Bosses, Green Lantern and Crazy, Stupid Love (and I have an iPad 2) and the lack of downloads is not what bugs me. It is the lack of an OTT streaming option.

mikemorel · 11-10-2011, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I'll add my

: Ultraviolet stinks.

It certainly does... At the moment. But I think that will change as 2012 unfolds. CES 2012 should shed some light.

It has to get better. Studio futures depend on it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSound

Thanks for starting this up Mike!

I have UltraViolet copies of Horrible Bosses, Green Lantern and Crazy, Stupid Love (and I have an iPad 2) and the lack of downloads is not what bugs me. It is the lack of an OTT streaming option.

It's funny...Everybody thinks that UV sucks. So I've been buying UV codes on ebay for $1.50 each.

PSound · 11-10-2011, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikemorel

It's funny...Everybody thinks that UV sucks. So I've been buying UV codes on ebay for $1.50 each.

Isn't it awesome!!

Going to end up with quite the library!

PSound · 11-10-2011, 06:20 PM

BTW.. It looks like HP is trending a little higher on EBay, but should still be able to pick it up for under $4.

mikemorel · 11-10-2011, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSound

BTW.. It looks like HP is trending a little higher on EBay, but should still be able to pick it up for under $4.

I was just checking that out. Tomorrow that may change.

Also just downloaded the Horrible Bosses movie from the flixster app on my iPad2.

560 MB. Took about 10 minutes (approx. 1 MB per second) via wireless connection. Works pretty slick, IMO.

chipvideo · 11-10-2011, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikemorel

I was just checking that out. Tomorrow that may change.

Also just downloaded the Horrible Bosses movie from the flixster app on my iPad2.

560 MB. Took about 10 minutes (approx. 1 MB per second) via wireless connection. Works pretty slick, IMO.

I love that movie. Jennifer Anastin makes a very good Nimpho IMO

mikemorel · 11-11-2011, 10:28 AM

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Promotes Jason Spivak

Quote:

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has upped Jason Spivak to the newly created position of SVP and GM of worldwide digital distribution, the studio announced Nov. 11.

A veteran of the home entertainment industry, Spivak will head the team responsible for Sony's transactional digital business around the world. His responsibilities also entail developing and implementing an integrated approach to the home entertainment market across digital and physical distribution channels.

“With the ongoing roll-out of UltraViolet and cloud storage systems changing the way consumers collect and access our content, digital distribution is at an inflection point,” said John Calkins, EVP of global digital & commercial innovation at Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, to whom Spivak will report. “Jason has the expertise necessary to help keep our customers at the forefront of the digital transition and to intelligently manage growth in this critical part of our business.”

Spivak has served in management roles in the physical and digital segments of the business. Most recently Spivak acted as the home entertainment arm's SVP of worldwide digital distribution and before that was SVP of strategic development.

Prior to joining Sony Pictures, Spivak spent eight years at MGM Home Entertainment, working in both Los Angeles and London, where he lead that studio’s early digital distribution efforts.

HD Goofnut · 11-11-2011, 11:09 AM

I'll balk at the day that a majority of consumers would rather have a digital copy in the clouds instead of a physical copy they can hold. I will certainly never support this model.

PSound · 11-11-2011, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikemorel

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Promotes Jason Spivak

From Variety:

Quote:

With digital distribution playing a larger revenue-generating role at studios, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has upped Jason Spivak to a newly created post as senior VP and general manager, worldwide digital distribution.

Spivak, who joined Sony in 2007, had already been overseeing the growth of Sony's digital biz as SPHE's senior VP, worldwide digital distribution and senior VP of strategic development.

Quote:

Although overall spending on home entertainment in the U.S. was off 5% for the first half of 2011 to $8.3 billion, according to the Digital Entertainment Group, electronic sales of films rose 4% to earn $270 million, while VOD was up another 4% to $929 million.

"With the ongoing rollout of UltraViolet and cloud storage systems changing the way consumers collect and access our content, digital distribution is at an inflection point," Calkins said. "Jason has the expertise necessary to help keep our customers at the forefront of the digital transition and to intelligently manage growth in this critical part of our business."

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118045979

chipvideo · 11-11-2011, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I'll balk at the day that a majority of consumers would rather have a digital copy in the clouds instead of a physical copy they can hold. I will certainly never support this model.

Me either. The only way I would support it if it was a higher quality than the physical. Say 4K resolution. No reason to get anything other than blu-ray atm.

mikemorel · 11-11-2011, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I'll add my

: Ultraviolet stinks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I'll balk at the day that a majority of consumers would rather have a digital copy in the clouds instead of a physical copy they can hold. I will certainly never support this model.

So having a physical copy you can hold in your hand is so important to you...

Quote:

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I find it much easier to rip the BD to one of my external hard drives and watch the movie in much better quality.

...Yet you are watching all your movies from digital copies that you are making yourself, on multiple hard drives.

Just like Ultraviolet. But you hate Ultraviolet.

Gotcha.

I see that a LOT from the disc supporters on these message boards. It is why the studios needed to come up with Ultraviolet in the first place.

PSound · 11-11-2011, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikemorel

So having a physical copy you can hold in your hand is so important to you...

...Yet you are watching all your movies from digital copies that you are making yourself. Gotcha.

I see that a LOT from the disc supporters on these message boards.

Content is content.

I may want to be holding a beer in my hand when I watch the movie, but I really don't need a physical representation of the delivery mechanism.

11-10-2011, 05:31 PM	#3
HD Goofnut Official HDF BD Reviewer Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Mississippi, U.S.A. Your resident Dune, Star Wars, and war film expert Posts: 9,556	I'll add my : Ultraviolet stinks. __________________ BenQ MP512ST, Panasonic TC-L55ET5 55" 360Hz LED/3D, Sharp LC-46SB57UN 46" 120 Hz LCD, Sanyo DP46848 46" 60Hz LCD, HP 21.5" 60Hz LCD Onkyo TX-NR709 7.1/Onkyo SKS-HT540 ASUS BD Drive, LG BH200, Sony Optiarc Blu-ray Burner, Sony BDP-590, Vizio VBR220 My Motion Picture Collection Latest BD Review: *Jack Reacher*

11-11-2011, 11:09 AM	#11
HD Goofnut Official HDF BD Reviewer Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Mississippi, U.S.A. Your resident Dune, Star Wars, and war film expert Posts: 9,556	I'll balk at the day that a majority of consumers would rather have a digital copy in the clouds instead of a physical copy they can hold. I will certainly never support this model. __________________ BenQ MP512ST, Panasonic TC-L55ET5 55" 360Hz LED/3D, Sharp LC-46SB57UN 46" 120 Hz LCD, Sanyo DP46848 46" 60Hz LCD, HP 21.5" 60Hz LCD Onkyo TX-NR709 7.1/Onkyo SKS-HT540 ASUS BD Drive, LG BH200, Sony Optiarc Blu-ray Burner, Sony BDP-590, Vizio VBR220 My Motion Picture Collection Latest BD Review: *Jack Reacher*

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11-10-2011, 05:44 PM	#4
PSound High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 1,749	Thanks for starting this up Mike! I have UltraViolet copies of Horrible Bosses, Green Lantern and Crazy, Stupid Love (and I have an iPad 2) and the lack of downloads is not what bugs me. It is the lack of an OTT streaming option.

11-10-2011, 06:20 PM	#7
PSound High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 1,749	BTW.. It looks like HP is trending a little higher on EBay, but should still be able to pick it up for under $4.