Amazon.com has launched Amazon Unbox, a new digital video download service for viewing television shows, movies and other video content from more than 30 studio and network partners.
Users even can watch a selection before downloading completes.
Unbox features programming from channels including A&E, CBS, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel, E! Entertainment Television, Fox Television, HGTV, Travel Channel, VH1 and more.
Unbox offers DVD-quality picture, delivering content encoded at 2,500kbps using VC-1. The system also includes a second file for playback on Windows Media-compatible portable devices.
Television series episodes sell for $1.99 per episode, while movies range between $7.99 and $14.99 each, or they can be rented for $3.99.
“Amazon has built the ultimate solution for anyone who has ever had a friend or co-worker tell them that they missed a great TV show last night,” said Bill Carr, Amazon.com's vice president of digital media. “Now customers can visit Amazon.com while at work and download DVD-quality TV shows and movies to their PC at home or wherever it is most convenient for them to watch.”
Several television series and films will make their digital download debut with Amazon Unbox, including all 79 episodes of the original “Star Trek.” Movies available for download include such new releases as “Failure to Launch,” “Inside Man,” “V for Vendetta.” and “Walk the Line.” In addition to the classics, Unbox will have independent films from Focus Features, Fox Searchlight, Lions Gate, and other studios.
Unbox www.amazon.com/unbox
