125,000 movies sold in iTunes Store first week

In spite of the propaganda piece for the * administration, I did buy Cinderelle because it was $10 cheaper than the "regular" version and someday I hope to have a dedicated movie server hooked to my TV so I can put away all those danged disks. Like I already did with my CD collection. They're boxed away in storage and ALL my music is on my external HD.

I also bought it as a test to see how long it would take to dl. We have DSL but we're on the low end and it took me 3 days, off and on, to get the whole thing.

I've also bought the entire 2nd season of both Lost and Desperate Housewives because we do NOT get ABC. (don't ask) And yesterday I had to buy the premiere ep of Bones because somehow I managed to miss it and now I'm totally confused.

I love being able to buy these items directly from iTunes. It's enough to make me pop for the faster version of DSL.

I still don't get it. When I want a movie I either add it to the netflix queue if I want to watch it once, or I pre-order it from amazon if I want to keep it. Either way, it shows up at my door and I get all the extras and can watch it on the device of my choosing.
Of course, I also don't get the iTunes music store, either, so I'm obviiously not the target audience. I'm not willing to sacrifice any quality or features for instant gratification. I live in a pretty rural area and I can be back from a Blockbuster or a music store quickly enough that it won't ruin my evening. When they sell movies for $4.99 maybe I'll give it a try.

I really hope they start a rentla pricing model aswell. I don't really want to be downloading gigs of films and having to find somewhere to store them. If iTune rentals lasted for 3 days or so, at £2/$4 then I think a lot of people would use that aswell - it would save going ot blockbuster anyway..

If I REALLY want to see a film, I go and see it in the cinema or buy the dvd (not through itunes), if I'm not too fussed I'll rent it...

Topcat, I do believe the movies are in 5.1 Surround.

Remember that a purchase in the itunes store (likely) means someone won't be buying the DVD. Revenue gained hear means revenue lost elsewhere. I'm glad for Apple but it's not as simple as looking at a single source of revenue without looking at the whole picture.

It is all about convience.

I can dl the movie to the ipod
Plug it into the 54" hd tv and get near dvd quality
Enjoy not having to leave my house and save a bit of money.

Dont get me wrong I love HD, 5.1 (and up) surround sounud, and all the other stuff. But frankly the people who read TUAW and the people who run out to get the latest and greatest tech like most of us are not the target audience for Itunes movies.

The target is teens who get the itunes cards and dont have cars and stuff like that. Also another target is the common middle class adult. They deal with tech they know they like movies, but they dont know how to rip dvds and everything else.

It would be great for itunes to offere hd movies in 5.1 and have the extras and commentaries and everything. Basically bandwidth restricts them. The common person does not want to wait all night for the dvd to dl through their normal cable line. They want in within the hour and just by clicking one button.

Easy and simple, thats what Apple is all about.

#20 (Tony)

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If disney made $1,000,000 than wouldn't that mean that they sold more than that many. I asume that Apple banks on movie sales somewhere in there? Could somebody please answer this?

I downloaded a movie. quality is pretty bad for 12.99.
the picture is washed out, no contrast (and no contrast/brightness control in iTunes)
I bought tons of TV shows, but I would need dvd quality for movies before i download more.
Especially since my ADSL provider is offering HD movies On Demand over my ADSL line (28Mbits)

haha nimrod was arguing with himself.