Apple plans to sell movies on iTunes
{{date|June 20, 2006}}

[[Image:Itunes.png|right|250px|thumb|Picture of the iTunes Music Store.]]

[[w:Apple Computer|Apple Computer]] is planning to sell full-length feature films for download via the online [[w:iTunes Music Store|iTunes Music Store]]. The store currently sells digital music tracks, and more recently has begun to sell TV episodes.

Apple executives are in negotiations with film studios to arrange the deal and settle on pricing structures. It is expected that films will retail for around $9.99 US dollars, although some studios are reported to want to set a higher price.

iTunes is currently by the biggest online retailer of digital music, with its software tightly integrated with the popular [[w:iPod|iPod]] line of products. Newer versions of the iPod include a colour screen capable of displaying videos, and so consumers could watch the films on the devices, but it is not yet clear how many people will want to do this.

Apple CEO [[w:Steve Jobs|Steve Jobs]] is also the largest single shareholder of [[w:The Walt Disney Company|Disney]], which now owns animation studio [[w:Pixar|Pixar]], however he could end up playing a wider role within the film industry if iTunes becomes the dominant online distributor.

A full-length TV movie, '[[w:High School Musical|High School Musical]]' from Disney, is already available on iTunes, suggesting that the technical infrastructure is already in place.

==Sources==

*{{source|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/20/technology/20apple.html
|title=A Coming Attraction: Movies on iTunes |author=|pub=New York Times|date=June 20, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.eitb24.com/portal/eitb24/noticia/en/sci/tech/report-apple-to-offer-movie-downloads-via-itunes?itemId=D38437&cl=%2Feitb24%2Fnuevas_tecnologias&idioma=en
|title=Apple to offer movie downloads via iTunes|author=|pub=eitb|date=June 20, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/article1090930.ece
|title=Apple in talks with Hollywood over film downloads for iTunes
|author=Stephen Foley
|pub=The Independent|date=June 20, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2006/06/20060619101731.shtml
|title=iTunes Movie Store Rumblings [Updated]
|author=longofest
|pub=Mac Rumors|date=June 19, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.variety.com/VR1117945470.html
|title=Friend or foe?
|author=Ben Fritz
|pub=Variety (magazine)
|date=June 18, 2006}}

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[[category:Science and technology]]
[[Category:Steve Jobs]]
[[Category:Computing]]
[[Category:Apple Inc.]]
Picture of the iTunes Music Store.

Apple Computer is planning to sell full-length feature films for download via the online iTunes Music Store. The store currently sells digital music tracks, and more recently has begun to sell TV episodes.

Apple executives are in negotiations with film studios to arrange the deal and settle on pricing structures. It is expected that films will retail for around $9.99 US dollars, although some studios are reported to want to set a higher price.

iTunes is currently by the biggest online retailer of digital music, with its software tightly integrated with the popular iPod line of products. Newer versions of the iPod include a colour screen capable of displaying videos, and so consumers could watch the films on the devices, but it is not yet clear how many people will want to do this.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs is also the largest single shareholder of Disney, which now owns animation studio Pixar, however he could end up playing a wider role within the film industry if iTunes becomes the dominant online distributor.

A full-length TV movie, 'High School Musical' from Disney, is already available on iTunes, suggesting that the technical infrastructure is already in place.


category:Science and technology
Steve Jobs Computing Apple Inc.