iTunes Movie Rentals at $2.99 for 30 days?

MacRumors · 08:58 PM

FinancialTimes reports that Apple is in talks with Hollywood studios about launching an online movie rental service.

The iTunes movie rentals would reportedly be $2.99 for a 30 day rental, but would allow films to be moved to at least one other device -- such as the iPod or iPhone.

The target for this service is believed to be autumn of this year.

Steve Jobs has always been vocal that customers do not want to rent music, but has never specifically excluded the possibility of movie rentals. In fact, at the shareholder meeting responded to a question about movie rentals through the Apple TV, Jobs replied "One never knows."

yoman · 08:34 PM

$2.99 for 30 days. Hmmm... That seems to make Blockbuster Video a little pricey.

macintel4me · Jun 10, 2007, 08:34 PM

That is I've been waiting for!! What a great price too!!

mkrishnan · Jun 10, 2007, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yoman

$2.99 for 30 days. Hmmm... That seems to make Blockbuster Video a little pricey.

I'd hit that.

thejakill · Jun 10, 2007, 08:35 PM

i would prefer a netflix-style rental model. $20 a month, "rent" 4 movies a time.

still, it's better than owning them for $10 or whatever it is.

HailToTheVictor · Jun 10, 2007, 08:35 PM

Sounds good to me

BobbyDigital · Jun 10, 2007, 08:36 PM

This is the only way I would watch movies from iTunes. I hope this is true...

zap2 · Jun 10, 2007, 08:36 PM

wow...thats a really good deal....I might spend the extra money to own the movie for a good amount of my movies, butstill it be nice, because I know to many time in my head, I'm thinking "I'd like to see that movie, but its not worth 10bucks for me"

apachie2k · Jun 10, 2007, 08:38 PM

more options = happier people! some would dissagree... but i would even like a dollar for a day/night kinda thing... like those red boxes at my local Stop and Shop...

mrkramer · Jun 10, 2007, 08:39 PM

I would use this only if it allowed you to rent the movie to see if it is one that you would watch again and if you want to buy it you can just pay the difference in price and keep it instead of it deleting itself.

Peace · Jun 10, 2007, 08:40 PM

I'd jump on this.Rarely do I watch the same movie more than 2-3 times a month and in the long run the ratio gets longer.

$2.99 for 30 days is a nice deal.

What I'd like to know is what the bandwidth/bitrate/quality would be.

bommai · Jun 10, 2007, 08:42 PM

While iPod and iPhone may be good for TV shows, sports updates, podcasts, etc, AppleTV is made for TV rentals. Just allow the user to browse and download movies directly from AppleTV with no need for the computer to be even turned on. Just store the movie locally and then allow the user to delete it or let it lapse after the rental period is over!! This alone can be a killer app for AppleTV.

In fact, movie rentals should be lower priced with AppleTV only feature. If you want more devices to share them, then make it a little more expensive - just to appease the MPAA.

Freg3000 · Jun 10, 2007, 08:42 PM

My first reaction: Completely acceptable.

My cable provider charges $2.95 for back catalogue and $4.95 for new releases. Seems fair.

island · Jun 10, 2007, 08:43 PM

I would be so all over this. HOT!

yoman · Jun 10, 2007, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peace

What I'd like to know is what the bandwidth/bitrate/quality would be.

Probably the same as current TV shows or movies to download. It definately would allow for instant gratification. I have noticed after the first 10 megabytes or so are dowloaded of a show I can just start watching it while it downloads. Total waiting time about 3-5 minutes from order to watching. I like it!

The Toon Master · Jun 10, 2007, 08:47 PM

I'm gonna bet at least 4.99 per rental, probably for 2 weeks tho

This would be a nice option, would kill Blockbuster/Netflix, and make Microsoft behind somethin else..

Curtis72 · Jun 10, 2007, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thejakill

i would prefer a netflix-style rental model. $20 a month, "rent" 4 movies a time.

still, it's better than owning them for $10 or whatever it is.

Why?

If you aren't renting four movies a month, then you just giving Netflix free money!

If iTunes add a rental service, thus would just provide another convience for me. I would still go to Blockbuster or Hollywood Video as I could get to then a lot quicker than it would take to download a large 1GB file! But that would be for movies I know iTunes does have.

05elstonc · Jun 10, 2007, 08:47 PM

I would love this. Even though I have Netflix, I may sometimes want an impulse movie download, and $2.99 is the perfect number. Lets hope HD comes into the mix soon, $4.99 for HD?

scotty321 · Jun 10, 2007, 08:48 PM

Yes! This would be amazing, and would even be enough for me to consider an AppleTV!

puckhead193 · Jun 10, 2007, 08:50 PM

eh i would use it if i had an

tv
how much does blockbuster and the like cost to rent a new release?

yg17 · Jun 10, 2007, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Toon Master

I'm gonna bet at least 4.99 per rental, probably for 2 weeks tho

This would be a nice option, would kill Blockbuster/Netflix, and make Microsoft behind somethin else..

No it wouldn't. I pay 15/mo for Netflix. Which means as long as I get 5 movies a month, which I do, I come out ahead of this deal. And I get higher quality and can watch them on my TV (and get 5.1 surround) with my 360 or a cheap $30 DVD player instead of the stupid Apple TV. Netflix wins.

And before someone says "Well, you have to wait for the postal service, blah blah blah" it's a moot point for me. I only have time to watch movies on weekends anyways. I drop them in the mail on Monday and have 2 new ones on Wednesday. And then they sit around until Friday when I actually get a chance to watch them.

RBMaraman · 08:58 PM

This proposal sounds fantastic. But, how long will it take before someone figures out how hack the rental download to make it a permanent download?

bommai · Jun 10, 2007, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curtis72

Why?

If you aren't renting four movies a month, then you just giving Netflix free money!

If iTunes add a rental service, thus would just provide another convience for me. I would still go to Blockbuster or Hollywood Video as I could get to then a lot quicker than it would take to download a large 1GB file! But that would be for movies I know iTunes does have.

$20 is not for four movies a month. $17.99 is for 3 movies at a time. So, you could theoretically watch about 24 movies in a month for $18.00/month. I pay just $10/month for one at a time and get about 8 movies per month. This includes Bluray. Can't beat the netflix price for the quality. Blockbuster is even better now that I can return and get another one for free from the local store. So, I can get even more than 8 movies per month for about $10/month. This also includes Bluray (and HD-DVD). For Apple to succeed, they need to make this 720p (1280x720p, true surround sound) and $2.99 for one week or a subscription plan where you get one movie at a time for a max of 8 movies per month for $10, etc.

Lessien · Jun 10, 2007, 08:55 PM

It's a fair bet that like Netflix there would be severals subscriptions offered in addition to the "standard" $2.99 per movie. I'd also expect a rent-to-own option, where paying an additional $7.00 - $12.00 allows you to purchase the movie.

AppleTV sales would almost surely improve if a service like this was introduced to the iTunes Store (in addition to higher resolution video). Apple would likely want the same day-and-date as Blockbuster and Netflix (among others) have with DVD sales. If so, look for Walmart, Best Buy and other retailers to lobby studios aggressively to limit the catalogue and to create a post-DVD release window for services like this.

cstromme · Jun 10, 2007, 08:56 PM

^ He hasn't said that. He's said that people don't want to rent their music.

Jun 10, 2007, 08:30 PM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	iTunes Movie Rentals at $2.99 for 30 days? FinancialTimes reports that Apple is in talks with Hollywood studios about launching an online movie rental service. The iTunes movie rentals would reportedly be $2.99 for a 30 day rental, but would allow films to be moved to at least one other device -- such as the iPod or iPhone. The target for this service is believed to be autumn of this year. Steve Jobs has always been vocal that customers do not want to rent music, but has never specifically excluded the possibility of movie rentals. In fact, at the shareholder meeting responded to a question about movie rentals through the Apple TV, Jobs replied "One never knows." Last edited by arn : Jun 10, 2007 at 08:58 PM.

Jun 10, 2007, 08:33 PM	#2
yoman macrumors 6502a Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: In the Bowels of the Cosmos	$2.99 for 30 days. Hmmm... That seems to make Blockbuster Video a little pricey. __________________ My first computer was an Apple IIGS at the meager age of 6 1/2 years. I was raised with an APPLE and I will die with an APPLE. Last edited by yoman : Jun 10, 2007 at 08:34 PM. Reason: spelling

Jun 10, 2007, 08:36 PM	#8
zap2 macrumors 601 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NJ	wow...thats a really good deal....I might spend the extra money to own the movie for a good amount of my movies, butstill it be nice, because I know to many time in my head, I'm thinking "I'd like to see that movie, but its not worth 10bucks for me" __________________ "We can't all be heroes because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by." Will Rogers

Jun 10, 2007, 08:38 PM	#9
apachie2k macrumors 6502 Join Date: May 2006 Location: NYC	more options = happier people! some would dissagree... but i would even like a dollar for a day/night kinda thing... like those red boxes at my local Stop and Shop... __________________ We must remember that the future is neither wholly ours nor wholly not ours.... So where is that bunnny??

Jun 10, 2007, 08:42 PM	#12
bommai macrumors regular Join Date: May 2003 Location: Melbourne, FL	A case for AppleTV While iPod and iPhone may be good for TV shows, sports updates, podcasts, etc, AppleTV is made for TV rentals. Just allow the user to browse and download movies directly from AppleTV with no need for the computer to be even turned on. Just store the movie locally and then allow the user to delete it or let it lapse after the rental period is over!! This alone can be a killer app for AppleTV. In fact, movie rentals should be lower priced with AppleTV only feature. If you want more devices to share them, then make it a little more expensive - just to appease the MPAA.

Jun 10, 2007, 08:34 PM	#3
macintel4me macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jan 2006	That is I've been waiting for!! What a great price too!!

Jun 10, 2007, 08:35 PM	#5
thejakill macrumors regular Join Date: Sep 2005	i would prefer a netflix-style rental model. $20 a month, "rent" 4 movies a time. still, it's better than owning them for $10 or whatever it is.

Jun 10, 2007, 08:35 PM	#6
HailToTheVictor macrumors regular Join Date: Feb 2007	Sounds good to me

Jun 10, 2007, 08:36 PM	#7
BobbyDigital macrumors member Join Date: Sep 2006	This is the only way I would watch movies from iTunes. I hope this is true...

Jun 10, 2007, 08:39 PM	#10
mrkramer macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jul 2006	I would use this only if it allowed you to rent the movie to see if it is one that you would watch again and if you want to buy it you can just pay the difference in price and keep it instead of it deleting itself.

Jun 10, 2007, 08:40 PM	#11
Peace macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: On top of the Storm Peaks waiting for the Time-Lost Proto Drake	I'd jump on this.Rarely do I watch the same movie more than 2-3 times a month and in the long run the ratio gets longer. $2.99 for 30 days is a nice deal. What I'd like to know is what the bandwidth/bitrate/quality would be.

Jun 10, 2007, 08:42 PM	#13
Freg3000 macrumors 68000 Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: New York	My first reaction: Completely acceptable. My cable provider charges $2.95 for back catalogue and $4.95 for new releases. Seems fair. __________________ FregTK This Is Momentum.

Jun 10, 2007, 08:43 PM	#14
island macrumors 6502 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: CT	I would be so all over this. HOT! __________________ MBP 2.93 w/ 250GB OCZ Vertex SSD Geekbench: 4343 \| Xbench: 239.78 xBench Disk Test : 245.31

Jun 10, 2007, 08:47 PM	#16
The Toon Master macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2006	I'm gonna bet at least 4.99 per rental, probably for 2 weeks tho This would be a nice option, would kill Blockbuster/Netflix, and make Microsoft behind somethin else..

Jun 10, 2007, 08:47 PM	#18
05elstonc macrumors regular Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Miami	I would love this. Even though I have Netflix, I may sometimes want an impulse movie download, and $2.99 is the perfect number. Lets hope HD comes into the mix soon, $4.99 for HD?

Jun 10, 2007, 08:48 PM	#19
scotty321 macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA	Yes! Yes! This would be amazing, and would even be enough for me to consider an AppleTV!

Jun 10, 2007, 08:50 PM	#20
puckhead193 macrumors 601 Join Date: May 2004 Location: NY	eh i would use it if i had an tv how much does blockbuster and the like cost to rent a new release? __________________ 20" iMac C2D - 2.33GHz, 3 GB ram, ATI X1600 256 MB VRAM 15" pb 1.5 GHZ Rev. C 30 gig ipod 3rd gen, 60 gig 5g ipod ~ white, silver 2GB nano, 64 gig iPod Touch

Jun 10, 2007, 08:52 PM	#22
RBMaraman macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: New Albany, IN	This proposal sounds fantastic. But, how long will it take before someone figures out how hack the rental download to make it a permanent download? Last edited by RBMaraman : Jun 10, 2007 at 08:58 PM. Reason: Corrections

Jun 10, 2007, 08:55 PM	#24
Lessien Banned Join Date: Jun 2007	Now we're talking... It's a fair bet that like Netflix there would be severals subscriptions offered in addition to the "standard" $2.99 per movie. I'd also expect a rent-to-own option, where paying an additional $7.00 - $12.00 allows you to purchase the movie. AppleTV sales would almost surely improve if a service like this was introduced to the iTunes Store (in addition to higher resolution video). Apple would likely want the same day-and-date as Blockbuster and Netflix (among others) have with DVD sales. If so, look for Walmart, Best Buy and other retailers to lobby studios aggressively to limit the catalogue and to create a post-DVD release window for services like this.

Jun 10, 2007, 08:56 PM	#25
cstromme macrumors regular Join Date: Feb 2007	^ He hasn't said that. He's said that people don't want to rent their music.

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