UNIVERSAL PICTURES NORDIC KONDIGT EERSTE DOWNLOAD-TO-OWN SERVICE IN SCANDINAVIË AAN

Na de recente, geslaagde lancering van het revolutionaire download-to-ownmodel in het Verenigd Koninkrijk (10 april 2006, Universal Pictures UK & LOVEFiLM), kondigen Universal Pictures International en NBC Universal nu een gelijkaardig project aan voor het Scandinavische territorium. Universal Pictures Nordic en film2home, een belangrijke speler op de VOD- en DTO-markt (video-on-demand en download-to-own), slaan vanaf 22 mei, om middernacht, de handen in elkaar om als eersten het aanbod van een grote Hollywoodstudio digitaal in Scandinavië beschikbaar te maken. Na de lancering in Zweden staat een snelle introductie in de andere Scandinavische landen gepland. Voortrekker van het aanbod, dat initieel uit een 35-tal topfilms zal bestaan, wordt opnieuw King Kong.

Het 3-copy DTO-systeem is erg eenvoudig. De consument koopt (vanaf de dag van de dvd-release) niet alleen twee digitale files die hij onbeperkt mag afspelen (in tegenstelling tot VOD, dat een tijdslimiet heeft en gemiddeld pas 3 maanden na de dvd-release beschikbaar komt), maar krijgt achteraf ook netjes de dvd zelf thuisgestuurd. De twee downloadbare bestanden zijn respectievelijk afspeelbaar op pc of laptop, en op draagbare apparaten die het afspelen van beschermde WMV9 SP content ondersteunen. De basisprijs bedraagt 229 Zweedse Kronen.

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Originele persbericht:

UNIVERSAL AND FILM2HOME LAUNCH FIRST EVER MAJOR DOWNLOAD-TO-OWN SERVICE IN NORDIC REGION

King Kong leads the DTO revolution in Scandinavia

Scandinavian film fans will be able to watch movies in an entirely new way as a result of a newly-formed partnership between Universal Pictures Nordic (a division of Universal Pictures International and NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies) and film2home, offering Nordic's first ever major movie download-to-own (DTO) service. The service, offering consumers a unique 3-copy model, will be launched first in Sweden from 22nd May, with other Nordic territories to follow shortly after.

The revolutionary new service will be headlined by King Kong, Universal's blockbuster hit which has amassed $550m at the global box office. The ground-breaking movie is directed by triple Academy Award winner Peter Jackson and stars Oscar-nominated Naomi Watts, Academy Award winner Adrien Brody and Jack Black.

Universal Pictures is the first major Hollywood studio to offer major feature film content for download through an electronic sell-through distribution model in Scandinavia. It is the second global territory that Universal has launched its unique 3-copy DTO model. This electronic sell-through initiative is a major step in harnessing the increasing number of high-speed broadband connections in Nordic homes and a way towards becoming as successful as the music business in providing legal and user friendly services for downloading entertainment content.

The unique DTO service was launched as a global first in the UK in a partnership between Universal and LOVEFiLM on 10th April 2006. The revolutionary model allows Swedish customers to download digital versions of films to their PC's or laptops, plus a digital file to view on a portable device, as well as a physical DVD copy of the film, all for a special launch price of 229 swedish kronor. The new service will be available to download at www.film2home.se.

Universal will initially offer a range of 35 titles on the film2home DTO service, including other major feature films such as Pride & Prejudice, Serenity, Doom and Nanny McPhee. Ongoing, all major film releases from Universal Pictures will be made available for download on the same date as the DVD release, ultimately offering consumers a large collection of available titles into the future.

"Downloading movies is a natural progression following the success of legal music download features. We are convinced that people are keen to legally access online entertainment if the choices are compelling enough. As Internet connection becomes faster, the consumer will expect more and more instant access to entertainment. Universal aims to build an extensive range of available content in a short space of time", said Ivor Viljoen, Managing Director of Universal Pictures Nordic.

Eddie Cunningham, Regional Managing Director UK, Nordics, Australia & NZ, added, "Universal has enjoyed great success with the launch of a world first download-to-own model in the UK in April with LOVEFiLM. I am delighted that we have maintained our leadership position by rolling out our unique service in a second territory, offering complete flexibility, choice and earlier online content access to consumers in the Nordic region."

Video-on-demand (VOD) currently exists in the digital marketplace, characterised by streaming technology that provides a temporary download that consumers may view within 24-48 hours. VOD content is available in the pay-per-view TV window around 3 months after DVD release. This unique DTO launch model is of significance because, being an electronic sell-through model, it differs by granting the consumer two permanent download files to own indefinitely, along with the physical DVD, and is available much sooner to customers on the same date as the DVD release. This model has been developed for the Nordic market in close collaboration with film2home, a leading Scandinavian video-on-demand service.

"It is an exciting entertainment landmark that Universal and film2home are the first in the Nordic region to launch a major DTO service. We look forward to working with other partners as download-to-own expands further into the marketplace" said Gerard Versteegh, co-founder of film2home.

How does the unique 3-copy DTO model Work?
• Nordic consumers can access on www.film2home.se
• Non film2home subscribers will need to register (free) in order to purchase the DTO combination package.
• A digital copy of the chosen title(s) can be downloaded in Sweden over the internet from 00.01 on 22nd May 2006.
• A second copy can be synched to portable Windows 'play for sure' digital movie devices (such as Archos AV700 or Creative Zen Vision), allowing customers to enjoy the film on the move.
• Customers will require Windows Media Player 10 on their PC and a portable device that supports playback of protected WMV9 SP content. This Digital Rights Management tool means that the download-to-own movie cannot be duplicated, burnt to disc, uploaded to the web or emailed on in any form.
• Customers will also receive a DVD copy in the post in special protective packaging.

About Universal
Universal Pictures Nordic is a division of Universal Pictures International, part of NBC Universal - one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi Universal.

About film2home
film2home is a leading Nordic video-on-demand service allowing consumers to rent (stream) movies via broadband or to alternatively buy (download-to-own) movies online. film2home currently operates in Sweden, Norway and Finland. The service can be reached via www.film2home.com, and can be accessed via My Station, the Online stores in Windows Media Player 9 & 10, the Online Spotlight in Windows XP Media Center Edition, the Swedish broadband operator Com Hem's service (Com Hem On Demand), Canal Digital's set-top boxes and several city networks. film2home is operated by Bonver, the Nordic region's major home entertainment distributor. Bonver (www.bonver.com) distributes films (rental or sell-through), music, and multimedia productions in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland.