Video service Vudu has become the first on-demand digital video provider to offer a download-to-own option for high-definition movies, starting off with 50 HD titles from independent film companies like Kino, FirstLook, and Magnolia Pictures—and that happens to include the just-won-an-Oscar documentary Man on Wire.
Under the service, high-definition titles can be stored on a user’s Vudu set-top box or in the online Vudu vault, an online storage service for movies and TV shows. High-definition movies are priced from $13.99 to $23.99. Selections are available in either HD or Vudu’s own HDX format at the same price; Vudu claims HDX is the highest quality on-demand format available in any medium. Vudu will offer every HD release from Kino, FirstLook, and Magnolia Pictures for high-def purchase day-and-date with the film’s DVD release. Vudu says they expect to see other film studios get on board with the download-to-own option in the coming months.
