AfterDawn: News

BigPond launches new movie download service

BigPond has launched a movie download service in Sydney, which is backed by Australian actor Toni Collette. It is the country's first "movies-on-demand Internet service". "I'm really excited about this - it gives film fans a new way to access and watch films," Collette said. "It also provides bigger potential audiences for small film makers and, importantly, as the first legal download service, it ensures the rights of artists and studios are protected in the online world."

Everything from new releases to feature films and classic TV series will be offered by the service. It is actually a movie rental service, as customers will have to install the BigPond Media Manager on their PCs to manage their downloads. The service also offers downloadable music videos and a variety of video for children. More than 1,000 titles are available including SpiderMan & Bewitched and some foreign favorites like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.



"Similar to a video store, customers can 'rent' content to view as many times as they want in 24 hours or on a weekly basis," Justin Milne, BigPond's group managing director said. "Once the rental period is over, the content is automatically deleted from their PC."

Source:
NineMSN

Written by: James Delahunty @ 22 Feb 2006 12:28

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• 25 comments

• Bubba1982

  yuk, Bigpuddle is owned by a disgusting company who will shaft you the very first chance they get. This is one service I will not be using.

  22.2.2006 12:59 #1

• punx777

  what format and DRM do they use...... wmv? what do we have to get around this?

  22.2.2006 18:36 #2

• hot_ice

  How is it automatically deleted from your pc? That's the real question. Besides, downloads take forever, so I will stick to renting video's for 1.50$ which is probably cheaper than what they are asking for.

  22.2.2006 23:01 #3

• joea2511

  hi i am joe..new here...i have a problem with my cell phone security code has been blocked...can u pls help in this..i am using 1100 nokia ...and ime no. is 357930005233215...and the mobile operator is ETISALAT IN DUBAI, U.A.E

  23.2.2006 23:38 #4

• gwendolin

  @Bubba1982, So sorry I didnt realize you had started this thread so like a clux I started one also in Safety Valve.
  I did however offer a little more info, Cheers.
  

  
  
  Sig created by Jeanc1
  
  Nero guide by alkohol
  http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/272946
  
  guide by Bbmayohttp://bbmayo.home.comcast.net/
  
  guide by Scubapetehttp://www.dvdplusvideo.com

  24.2.2006 00:13 #5

• Bubba1982

  twas not I that started this thread. I was just the first person to make a comment on the news article...I think that the thread is automatically created with the first comment.
  

  
  For more help check out the web chat
  http://adbuddies.ccsau.com
  
  

  24.2.2006 04:26 #6

• Mik3h

  Quote:"Once the rental period is over, the content is automatically deleted from their PC." Haha. that will be cracked I bet.
  
  -Mike

  24.2.2006 04:35 #7

• T3RRY

  lets all hope this will be cracked asap, if you crack it let me know.

  24.2.2006 11:49 #8

• madman91

  Just go to the local video rental store and rent a movie. Why download. This idea will only work when we have 1TB download speeds and no one waits. Download rentals? Come on.
  
  And to follow up on hot_ice, how will it be deleted? There are probably already ways to burn these movies to DVD floating around on the internet.

  24.2.2006 12:08 #9

• rav0

  BigPond is also a cable ISP (a very shit one at that, but they have no competition), so download speeds shouldn't be a problem.
  
  The automatic deletion is meant to work because the store is accessed through a special program (iTunes style), and I assume that the user isn't ever shown a file for a specific movie, the user just chooses that movie from inside that software. Doesn't mean that it will certainly not be worked around though ;).
  
  I'll start buying movies and music online when I can actually get a real licence to it, not just a licence to one format of it.

  24.2.2006 13:41 #10

• gwendolin

  Here's what I wrote in the other thread
  Quote:Australia's Big Pond will, from March1 offer LEGAL Movie Downloads.
  The cost will be Aus$5.95 for latest movie releases. Movie Rental firms will get latest releases first, some 3 months prior to Big Pond customers.
  
  It comes with a catch however, the downloads are to computer Hard Drive ONLY and CANNOT be copied. It is also reported that they are only available for 24 hour HIRE.
  
  I have attempted to find out more but no further comments were available.
  
  When the first movies are released in March I will take up their offer to see how the scheme operates.
  
  Can you imagine the Family sitting around watching a Computer screen??
  

  
  
  Sig created by Jeanc1
  
  Nero guide by alkohol
  http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/272946
  
  guide by Bbmayohttp://bbmayo.home.comcast.net/
  
  guide by Scubapetehttp://www.dvdplusvideo.com

  24.2.2006 14:30 #11

• m_towell

  If anyone's interested, I just downloaded one of the trailers (since it was free) and it's a standard .wmv file.
  
  So... I guess, if you burn a movie file off to CD/DVD (or set permissions on the directory, etc) before watching it, they can't delete it when the time is up ;)
  
  Now... how do you remove restrictions on a WMV file? (Since I've never needed to find out until now :P)

  25.2.2006 00:51 #12

• hot_ice

  5.95$ thats a ridiculous price. Current rental of new releases here is 1.15$.
  
  Big difference in price.

  25.2.2006 09:41 #13

• m_towell

  Last time I went into a video store (admittedly, years ago), new releases were AU$5 over night.
  
  But, with DVD, you could copy it if you wanted to ;)

  25.2.2006 09:59 #14

• Ben2006

  Unless theres a way to copy the song into dvd before the service deletes it from your computer which im sure there is then maybe it something to try but otherwise i wouldnt try it..

  25.2.2006 11:26 #15

• dg089

  I might subscribe. I doubt it though.
  

  My complete guide to backing up and playing ps2 DVD games:http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/299140
  
  
  
  Go to I_suck's website: http://www.ps2burns.host.sk
  
  If you have a question that hasen't been awnsered send me a private message ASAP.
  
  DG089
  Proud Member
  Afterdawn.com
  

  25.2.2006 19:15 #16

• gwendolin

  @dg089,
  
  This service is only available in AUSTRALIA
  

  
  
  Sig created by Jeanc1 & ScubaBud
  
  Nero guide by alkohol
  http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/272946
  
  guide by Bbmayohttp://bbmayo.home.comcast.net/
  
  guide by Scubapetehttp://www.dvdplusvideo.com

  25.2.2006 19:48 #17

• dg089

  well that sucks, oh well looks like I can't get it.
  

  My complete guide to backing up and playing ps2 DVD games:http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/299140
  
  
  
  Go to I_suck's website: http://www.ps2burns.host.sk
  
  If you have a question that hasen't been awnsered send me a private message ASAP.
  
  DG089
  Proud Member
  Afterdawn.com
  

  26.2.2006 06:10 #18

• danilob

  is there a way to convert VCD format to dvd ?
  is there a software for conversion VCD to dvd.
  please help i wanted to save old movies in VCD to dvd.
  
  thanks,
  danny b

  26.2.2006 08:02 #19

• hot_ice

  Yes there is, its cucusoft. Its a very easy program, and you can convert to most formats out there.

  26.2.2006 10:03 #20

• danilob

  THANK YOU HOT ICE FOR THE PROMPT REPLY, IS THIS A FREE WARE OR COMMERCIAL ITEM ? PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHERE CAN I GET THIS PROGRAM "CUCUSOFT.
  THANKS AGAIN HOT ICE,
  DANNYB

  26.2.2006 11:50 #21

• hot_ice

  Unfortunately it is not freeware. You can easily get it at www.download.com, just type in the search field cucusoft and you will see AVI to dvd, VCD, SVCD etc.
  
  Its a 30 day trial. You can also find it on bitcomet, again just type in cucusoft and you will get what you need.
  
  Its a very simple program, you can watch downloaded avi's once converted on television if you are like me, fed up of viewing them on your pc.
  
  A 699 megabite clip takes about 2-3 hours roughly to convert into another format (of course depending on how fast your pc is, what format you use, how high the quality is etc)

  26.2.2006 12:12 #22

• ddp

  danilob, knock off the caps lock as is referred to as shouting. read the forum rules above about posting.

  26.2.2006 12:44 #23

• MXGzX

  WTF STAY ON TOPIC!
  
  so...what's the media type they'll use

  28.2.2006 12:08 #24

• m_towell

  I posted that above...
  Quote:If anyone's interested, I just downloaded one of the trailers (since it was free) and it's a standard .wmv file.
  
  So... I guess, if you burn a movie file off to CD/DVD (or set permissions on the directory, etc) before watching it, they can't delete it when the time is up ;)
  
  Now... how do you remove restrictions on a WMV file? (Since I've never needed to find out until now :P)

  28.2.2006 12:12 #25