AOL inks download deal with four Hollywood studios

by Staff, Brand Republic 25-Aug-06, 09:00

NEW YORK - AOL is to offer films and TV shows to download from four of the largest Hollywood studios as part of its new internet video service, which will include the likes of 'A Scanner Darkly, 'Miami Vice' and 'The Da Vinci Code'.

The online company said that films would be made available to customers from Twentieth Century Fox, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Universal Pictures and sister AOL company Warner Bros Home Entertainment Group and will be available for download on the AOL Video service for between $9.99 (£5.30) for back catalogue films, and $19.99 (£10.61) for new releases.

AOL Video was first set up in August last year as a site to search and download video content from the web. It was revealed in July that the service would allow users to buy or watch for free thousands of television shows from any one of 45 video-on-demand channels, including programmes licensed from Viacom channels MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central networks and the US A&E Television Network.

Initially, 25 movie titles will be available across the site, but the company has said that hundreds of titles available within the next few weeks from the studios.

AOL's parent company, Time Warner said this month that it would be offering broadband users free web and emails services that it previously charged for it will be able to boost the number of visits it receives and online ad revenue.

In June, the online firm also said it was set to launch a social networking website to rival MySpace and Bebo. The site will be integrated with its instant messaging and blogging services as part of its move to an open content business.

Open to all internet users, the site's development continues AOL's move away from privileging subscribers to its ISP business and towards generating more revenue from advertisers and other sources.

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