MovieBeam To Offer On-Demand High Definition Movie Rentals

Yet another company is looking to cash in on the HDTV craze, looking to deliver first-run high-definition content through a set-top box. MovieBeam will provide a Linksys box, with capacity for 100 movies, priced at around $200 USD after rebate and $29 USD activation fee. It is meant to be stacked on top of a cable TV set-top box and comes with a paperback-book sized antenna to receive movie updates.

Anyone else looking forward to adding yet another set-top box to their entertainment center? We aren’t. Even worse though, is the pricing. First-run standard format videos will rent for $3.99 and high-definition videos rent for $4.99. Older movies in the catalog cost $1.99 for standard format and $2.99 for high- definition—roughly in line with rates at video stores. MovieBeam, which uses datacasting technology over the Public Broadcasting System network, will initially be available in 29 U.S. cities.

Companies are going to need to start realizing that subscription models are going to be the way to go. Why wouldn’t I just stick with Netflix if they are going to be able to provide me with high-definition DVD formats for one monthly fee?

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