MovieBeam -- Disney tries again to deliver to your home
Updated
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Today it announces the relaunch of MovieBeam, a $199.99 set-top box that will deliver new movies at $3.99 a piece, and older movies at $1.99 -- this is not a per-month fee.
It is significant because MovieBeam is offering for the first time to deliver you new movies the same day they're released on DVD.
The company first launched MovieBeam in 2003, but had issues with its business model and suspended the service in April last year, and ate the...
$56 million, according to SEC filings (page 39).
Disney is using Silicon Valley's help for this. The valley's biggest networking company, Cisco Systems, biggest chip company, Intel, and three big venture firms, Mayfield, Norwest Venture Partners and VantagePoint Venture Partners have pumped $48.5 million into this baby.
Here's the Merc's story today (free registration) on this. Ben Bajarin, analyst with Creative Strategies, say he hasn't seen anything coming out of the movie distribution business "that is this compelling."
They're going to have to overcome a little "box fatigue," but it's interesting. It is using the airwaves, not broadband.
http://www.siliconbeat.com/cgi-bin/mt331/mt-tb.cgi/1128
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Tracked: July 28, 2006 1:34 AM
This is also a nice workaround if the cable ISP companies decide they want to favor their own content at the expense of others.
tim fong on February 15, 2006 11:34 AMComment link
I think moviebeam is a great idea. I know that I have barely anytime to go to the theatre(nor the money) and movie stores have become so over rated. The idea of watching the movies and not leaving my house and only paying for what I watch sounds like a great idea. I know that I will be purchasing one. I dont really like watching anything on my TV but the movie channels anyway. I could have already saved a lot of money if this had come out sooner.
Katie on February 15, 2006 5:45 PMComment link
I think moviebeam is a great idea. I know that I have barely anytime to go to the theatre(nor the money) and movie stores have become so over rated. The idea of watching the movies and not leaving my house and only paying for what I watch sounds like a great idea. I know that I will be purchasing one. I dont really like watching anything on my TV but the movie channels anyway. I could have already saved a lot of money if this had come out sooner.
Katie on February 15, 2006 5:45 PMComment link
Why such a delay in offering the movie? If the movie rental huts get a movie 45 days before MovieBeam, its already old news.
Make it synchronous and I'm in. Even better, let me download new releases from the theater and I'll pay $10 a movie!
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It is available now for $49.99 plus tax. Movies range from $2.99 - $4.99(HD)
Steve on May 31, 2006 1:03 PMComment link
