Warner Bros launches movie downloads

NEWS Warner Brothers has broken ranks with other US studio giants by agreeing to provide movies for download to CinemaNow - a rival to Hollywood's favoured service MovieLink. Previously MovieLink had enjoyed a dominant and largely unchallenged position in the movie download market, but Warner has now offered a ray of hope to rival services. For just $3, movie fans, with the obligatory broadband connection, will be able to download a selection of Warner films from the depths of the back catalogue, including Tim Burton's Mars Attacks and Alfred Hitchcock's Dial M for Murder. Those hoping to see something a little more recent - such as last year's box office smash Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - will be able to do so for the slightly higher price of $4. CinemaNow and Warner will split the proceeds of the cyber-rentals. Customers will be able to download movies and store them for up to 30 days. However, the file will 'self destruct' 24 hours after they begin watching. CinemaNow will be hoping its successful courtship of Warner will see other major studios follow suit. MovieLink already offers movies for download from the big five - MGM, Paramount, Sony, Universal and Warner Brothers - and CinemaNow will be hoping to crack its monopoly. In related news, MovieLink has signed a deal with IBM which will see Big Blue provide managed hosting services, including systems operations and network management to its online movie rental service.