LOS ANGELES: With the launch of a new cloud-based movie service from Walt Disney Co., the marketplace of Web-based movie services just got more crowded and possibly confusing for consumers.
After eschewing UltraViolet, a technology standard backed by its main movie business competitors, Burbank-based Walt Disney Co. has debuted “Disney Movies Anywhere,” a proprietary service that gives users online access to their digital and physical Disney movie purchases, latimes.com reported.
“Disney Movies Anywhere” launched Tuesday and is available on Apple iOS devices including the iPhone, iPad and Apple TV. Users can also stream films by logging into the “Disney Movies Anywhere” website.
The free service acts as a “digital movie locker,” allowing users to manage and view films they’ve bought online, as well as store digital copies of their physical Blu-ray and DVD purchases. Consumers can also use the app to purchase films.
The online service is similar to platforms that use UltraViolet, the cloud-based technology that debuted in 2011 and is backed by a consortium of more than 80 retailers and film companies.
However, in contrast to services that use UltraViolet, the Disney service utilizes KeyChest, a technology developed by Disney over several years.
The service will only offer movies released by Walt Disney Studios.
UltraViolet, meanwhile, is used by every major film studio except Disney.
“We had always made the decision that we were going to do something different,” said Jamie Voris, Walt Disney Studios’ chief technology officer. “For us, it was really about waiting until we felt that we had ... something that we felt was worthy of our brand, and something our customers would expect from us.”
Disney launches ‘Movies Anywhere’ digital movie locker
