Apple launches movies on UK iTunes

 

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By Matthew Sparkes

Posted on 4 Jun 2008 at 10:42

UK customers can now download films through Apple's iTunes store, with titles from all the major studios on offer.

Over 700 films are available on the service for rental or purchase, from studios including 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney, Paramount, Warner Bros and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios.

Rentals will be available for 30 days from the date of download, but must be watched within 48 hours of being played for the first time, while purchased films will remain on users' hard disks permanently.

Rentals cost £2.49 for archive films and £3.49 for new releases, while purchases will be charged at £6.99 and £10.99 respectively. High definition versions, of which there are 100 available, will be charged at a £1 premium over standard files.

Apple claims that new releases will be made available to users on the same day as the DVD release.

The company was rumoured to be in talks with 20th Century Fox as early as 2006 to plan film purchases for the iTunes store, having already released 75 Disney movies in September of the same year. However, the company admitted earlier this year that film sales had not met expectations.

Movie downloads have not been available in the UK until now, with users only being able to access a range of TV shows.