Germans unhappy as iTunes movies hit UK and Canada

by Stevie Smith - Jun 5 2008, 11:45

Almost two years after its movie service launched in the United States, Apple is this week expanding the international domination of iTunes with the official availability of downloadable cinematic content for customers residing in both the United Kingdom and Canada.

For those iTunes users based in the UK, more than 700 titles will be offered from launch, with 100 of that initial catalogue available for viewing in high definition (HD). Canadian customers will receive around 1,200 titles, with 200 of those in HD.

And, to further increase the content’s consumer appeal, Apple has confirmed that a number of the movies hitting both the UK and Canadian stores at launch will be arriving on the same day they are released on DVD in those regions.

Standard definition (SD) prices for the UK store see new releases costing £10.99 GBP for a full purchase and £3.49 GBP for limited-time rental. Older titles will cost £6.99 GBP for a full purchase and £2.49 GBP for rental.

Canadian prices place new releases at $19.99 CAD, while recent releases will be priced at $14.99 CAD, and catalogue titles will sit at $9.99 CAD. Those film fans looking to enjoy HD titles will need to spend an extra pound/Canadian dollar in each respective pricing category.

Rental time stretches to 30 days in terms of the amount of time a customer has to initiate movie playback. Once watched, the content is then only available for playback for a period of 48hrs.

According to California-based computer and gadget giant Apple Inc., movie content from leading studios such as Disney, Fox, Lionsgate, MGM, Paramount, Sony International, and Warner Bros. would be made available in both regions.

Early UK titles set for unveiling through iTunes include Hitman, I Am Legend, Into The Wild and National Treasure 2, while Canadian store titles include Cloverfield, Juno and The Bourne Ultimatum.

Movie content downloaded from the iTunes Store is open for playback through the iPod Classic, iPod Nano Video, iPod Touch, or channelled through a television set via Apple TV.

In related news, the continuing international roll out of TV content through iTunes has left Apple facing a gamut of disgruntled users in Germany, which recently took stock of popular US and German television series -- with a decidedly mixed reception regarding the former.

Specifically, iTunes Germany has been besieged by user comments slamming Apple for high pricing that delivers zero flexibility in terms of playback choices. Accompanied by a wealth of one-star user reviews, a vast number of Germany-based customers have been left enraged after downloading US television content priced at DVD rates that comes locked in the German language without the (seemingly much preferred) original English voice track.

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