SYDNEY: Online movie downloads look set to hit the mainstream, following a groundbreaking deal between Australia's largest online DVD retailer and movie downloads pioneer ReelTime.
Online DVD retailer EzyDVD and ReelTime Media today announced a major partnership set to shake up the traditional DVD and online movie distribution markets.
With 10% of of the $1.3 billion Austrlian DVD market, EzyDVD will take ReelTime's movie and TV downloads products direct to its online and in-store customers. EzyDVD operates 68 physical retail outlets and attracts over 40,000 daily visitors to its site - named by Hitwise as Australia's number one e-commercie site.
EzyDVD will now offer download-to-rent and download-to-own movie and TV titles available for viewing on PC, mobile or TV screens. EzyDVD will also market ReelTime's personal video recorder with inbuilt Microsoft Vista Media Centre complete with Ice TV program guide. The potential market leading PVR is being billed as a "real challenger" for Seven's TiVo.
EzyDVD founder Jim Zavos said: “ReelTime’s world-class capabilities are the perfect fit for EzyDVD because our customers will now have the option to download video from our site and then watch them on either their TVs, or on their PCs."
Under the deal, EzyDVD will negotiate for Hollywood content for physical as well as digital distribution rights on behalf of ReelTime
The partnership will not affect ReelTime's existing relationship with Yahoo!7.
ReelTime will issue up to a maximum of 142 million shares over next three years to EzyDVD, with Zavos given a seat on the ReelTime board.
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