What should happen is you should see a movie you can't get on apple TV and it should suggest you get the player it is on. That would be sweet.

fastm3driver

Can you access the site from a Apple TV, Vudu,or Netflix box? No? Then fail.
Why don't all the movie studios release their movies with the movie already DRM'ed and force all the providers to use ONE DRM scheme? Oh, that would be smart.

fastm3driver

@ZackHoagie: What I meant to say, and hit the enter key too soon I see, was: "This smells like a place to collect IP addresses from that could later be used to pair with an bittorrent you try to upload/download at a later time."

Sorry it came out wonky, someone came in to my office as I was completing the post and I got frazzled. My bad. ;-)

axiomatic

@axiomatic: Yes, but at the same time, no, they are only listing legal, approved services. Why would they get people looking at Netflix?

ZackHoagie

While this does slightly address the problem, it doesn't really solve it.

The problem here is simple. Consumers don't want to have iTunes, Amazon, Netflix, and Vudu software installed on their computer or home system to simply watch the movies they like. One shouldn't have to go download iTunes to watch "The Scorpion King" or Amazon's player to watch "Dr. Strangelove".

The movies I want to view should be available from any of the major virtual venues much like the movies I want to view are available at Walmart, SunCoast Video, Blockbuster, Hollywood Video, etc.

However the movie studios are pulling similar stunts as the recording companies did with their music. Some studios movies are on iTunes, while others are on Amazon, and still others on Netflix.

It's honestly no wonder why consumers are more likely to go download new releases illegally off of file sharing programs. They don't have to have 5 various peices of software installed, nor deal with the DRM that comes with it. One application, thousands of movies, no DRM. I'm sure "free" also plays a role, but the fact of the matter is that the MPAA and all it's associated studios are simply behind the times, and so preoccupied with DRM that they can't all get on board with the all companies providing legal movie downloads/viewing and because of that the consumers are turning to the pirates who are offering better selection at the price of $0.00.

jerros

Seems to me that having the MPAA 'consolidate' online movie offerings to include all (or even just all major) legal download services would tend to restrict the freedom of their constituent companies to choose how their IP should be available to consumers. It is, after all, their product, it seems reasonable that they should be able to dictate what stores carry it.

Not to say that it wouldn't be advantageous to consumers, but there's no guarantee that it would be an automatic money-maker for the studio or production company.

Canthros

I would be weary... this sounds like a "lets start collecting IP addresses who visit this site in to a database" kind of shenanigans in the making.

I wouldn't ask the MPAA or the RIAA for the time of day even. There is always a catch with them.

axiomatic

I've held for years that all streaming movies should be available on all devices, but to have the charge for each of them be sent to whoever has the rights, minus a small fee for the provider of the streaming mechanism. The it would break a little bit of exclusivity in the delivery mode, but would retain the excusivity (and rewards) of the library-minders.

ninjagin

The situation isn't even close to being a viable competitor to bit torrent, but legal streaming has been making many improvements lately. I think that movies are stuck in the dark ages, but look at the prevalence of popular TV shows to see that studios are changing.

teh

@lilaliendog: Well, we aren't all made of money, buddy.

ZackHoagie

at least its slightly... somewhat... a little tiny bit helpful

Shub-Niggurath

just go out and buy the bluray or dvd ... whats the big deal we all know movie downloads that are of any real quality are still years away when they also have 5.1 sound tracks that aren't compressed to hell.

lilaliendog

That is oddly helpful, not as helpful as the studios using common sense and letting us pay for the movies we want to watch.

jiffy

MPAA doing somethig helpful?

Ok, whats the catch.

ZackHoagie

Can't wait for that Netflix-streaming 360 service...

Chromeo

They should throw the bit torrent links up there too.

Joseph

hey MPAA where can I find public domain?

Costermonger