Paramount has announced this week that it will begin releasing 10 feature films with Silverlight-enhanced features for Windows Phone 7 devices, starting with the launch of ‘School of Rock.’
The other 9 movies will be available in the U.S, Canada and some international markets by the end of the year.
Each movie “app” will have the full film, a menu, bonus features and Web-connected content.
The next Paramount Silverlight Enhanced Movies for Windows Phone are ‘Zoolander,’ ‘Waiting for Superman’ and ‘GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra.’
“Through our relationship with Microsoft, we’re able to provide consumers new, enhanced ways to enjoy movies from anywhere on Windows Phone 7,” adde Geremie Camara, Vice President Product Development for Paramount Digital Entertainment, in the press release. “Using Silverlight technology and adding interactive and social networking features, our enhanced movie apps transform the movie viewing experience into a true entertainment experience.”
Enhanced movie apps will have ‘Scene It?’ pop-up trivia, the ability to cut custom clips, and “Movie Info,” giving consumers a chance to identify actors, music, places and objects in the movie.
Result for: bonus features
Microsoft and the large UK retailer Tesco have announced they will be teaming up to provide a new “DVD-quality” movie downloading service that uses Silverlight technology.
Beginning this fall, any Tesco customer who purchases certain DVDs will receive a free “digital copy” of the movie that they can download to their Macs or Windows machines.
In addition to the film, the digital copies will also bring “extra network-connected features such as auto-updated trailers, exclusive bonus content, movie viewing parties with online chat, related music offerings such as MP3s and ring tones, and networked games.”
“Tesco is excited to be the first retailer to partner with a broad range of major movie studios to offer this next-generation movie experience,” said Rob Salter of Tesco. “For the first time, consumers will be able to enjoy a DVD equivalent experience with digital movies, which paves the way for more advanced viewing experiences enabled through Silverlight.”
“This is just the beginning. In the future we expect to offer our customers innovative digital solutions that far exceed the DVD experience and deliver exclusive content, Web events and services wherever and whenever they want them,” Salter added.
Adds Gabriele Di Piazza, senior director for the Media & Entertainment business in the Communications Sector at Microsoft: “We believe this alliance will offer consumers in the U.K., and eventually additional markets, the opportunity to download a digital copy that is truly the equivalent of a physical disk –with the same package of navigation, bonus features and director commentaries.”
Result for: bonus features
Following in Fox’s footsteps, Disney has announced that it will become the second studio to release two different “classes” of DVDs and Blu-ray Discs, a “premium” version, and a bare-bones rental version.
Starting in June with the movies Morning Light, Confessions of a Shopaholic and Jonas Brothers: The Concert Experience, the studio will offer the premium version with extras and other “value-added material” while also offering the cheaper stripped-down rental versions.
The move follows that of 20th Century Fox, however with some significant differences. Disney will offer the rental versions at a lower price point, whereas Fox offers both versions at the same price. Fox also controls what rental or retail outlets can buy, however Disney gives all companies the option to buy what they please.
The rental units will not be shrink wrapped and will have no promotional inserts inside either. For example, the Jonas Brothers premium DVD, with digital copy and bonus features, has a MSRP of $39.99 USD while the single disc rental version will have the movie only, and has an MSRP of $29.99 USD.
Retailers seemed to generally respect the decision. “That is all we care about,” added one executive. “Not only do you have the difference in price, but retailers can buy either version.”
Fox has been having issues with their decision recently, and is even considering dissolving their DVD class separation.
