Amazon.com Launches Video Download Service

Perhaps anticipating Apple’s possible announcement of an iTunes movie download service next week, Amazon.com formally launched their Amazon Unbox digital video download offering. Unbox essentially allows consumers the ability to download to rent or own (depending upon the type of content) thousands of DVD-quality TV shows, movies and other types of video for viewing on a PC or Windows Media-compatible portable device. Over 30 studio and network partners from Hollywood and beyond are providing videos to Amazon Unbox, with a huge selection of mainstream content being available such as movies like V for Vendetta and Brokeback Mountain as well as episodes from TV shows like CSI and 24.

Unbox customers can purchase television series episodes for $1.99 per episode, purchase most movies for between $7.99 and $14.99, or rent the latest movies for $3.99.

With offerings from a wide array of major Hollywood players like 20th Century Fox and Sony Pictures as well as television networks like CBS and FOX, the Amazon Unbox service could prove to be the shot in the arm the digital download video market has been looking for. Primarily a niche choice for consumers up to this point, the entrance of one of the largest e-commerce players followed up next week perhaps by a rival service from the company behind the iPod could finally give broadband users around the world the excuse they’ve been looking for to legally download their favorite movies in mass.

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