Is it just me that missed this brewing last year? Ultraviolet – the first proper diskless video format seems set to become the new standard in online media delivery. It’s Apple vs. everyone else.
Ultraviolet Format Close to Commercial Release
It’s about time. Hollywood is taking a huge step forward in digital distribution today. Six major studios have announced a new “service and format” called UltraViolet, created by the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE). Although I cherish my always-growing Blu-Ray collection, I recognize that the future is headed towards digital disc-less distribution, and along with Netflix Instant, which I already use and love, UltraViolet sounds like it’s the next step in evolving the digital distribution medium. There are various press releases and details arriving in from multiple events at CES in Las Vegas, so there’s plenty to read on this.
Among the studios supporting UltraViolet are Lionsgate Entertainment, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox, Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. “Complementing the physical DVD and Blu-ray home entertainment markets, studios will begin offering UltraViolet content this year through digital online retailers and digital rights that come with packaged media, giving consumers the ability to watch digital entertainment across multiple platforms such as connected TVs, PCs, game consoles and smartphones.” So it sounds like they’re trying to come up with one unifying system for movie distribution and ownership, if that’s what I’m understanding from this press release, which sounds terrific.
Here’s how The Wrap explains it: “Get to know the name UltraViolet. By next year you’ll be able to play all the movies and shows you download over almost any device — from TVs to smartphones to tablets to PCs to Blu-ray players. You’ll also be able to burn them onto DVDs and share them with family and friends.” That sounds like a dream come true, if this is all real. Is that exactly what we’re getting? That is their basic plan with it for now. In addition to those aforementioned studios, other stakeholders in the service include media behemoth Comcastas well as Microsoft, Best Buy and yep, even our pal Netflix. I’m sure Apple and Amazon will join eventually – as they’re my two primary digital media destinations at the moment. (cont.)
