Comcast proposes video on demand with a DVD follow-up

This is perfect, the same thing Apple should do with itunes pay for it now; then later get it in a nice uncompressed format. you get the movie when you want it and but also get to 'own' it too PERFECT!

This is so smart it is freaking scary!

i wonder if you returned the dvd w/out opening it (ie: if the movie SUCKED) and get your $17.99 back

It is an interesting idea. I don't think returning the unopened movie should be worth getting back your $17.99. After all, you watched the movie immediately on a PPV like system. I'm not sure what those cost these days, but let's say ordinarily watching a movie on PPV is $4... watching it six weeks in advance should raise the price a bit (think new release). So let's say $7 just to be kind. I think a better option would be that after you watched the PPV version, they would offer you the DVD for say $10 more. If you didn't want the DVD because the movie sucked... they could still get the $7 and you would avoid the expense of the DVD you didn't want. What I am curious about though, is what condition the DVD is in. It sounds like a grand idea... except that what if the DVD is a blank generic DVD. They don't specifiy that you'll be getting the same commercial copy you'd receive at a physical store. What if it's a plain jane version of the DVD that's been made specially for comcast. Perhaps in a paper sleeve without any extras. Even worse... what if it's full frame!

"This is so smart it is freaking scary!" Actually not! Does anybody see the most obvious flaw in this supposedly "Greedy"Genius plan-it would be easier just to go to Wal-Mart or better yet Order from Amazon or such and get it cheaper ,sooner and cut out the Greedy middleman

....Or if they really know how to do it just Use Various methods provided by the High Speed internet And P2P, BT or Newsgroups IRC.

Ummm.... there is no wait, that's the thing and you get the film before than it can hit the shelves. Plus, you don't have to leave the house. I think it is smart as it makes PPV a better value plus, you don't need to wait. Impulse buy is a powerful thing. If I have a choice between digital cable quality in seconds or Internet quality in ??? Then I have to burn it to DVD if this is allowed then carry it over to my player......I'll take digital cable every time. Also, the price for the releases is a bit cheaper than what I see in the paper i.e. it is usually 19.99 for a new release. "it would be easier just to go to Wal-Mart or better yet Order from Amazon or such and get it cheaper ,sooner and cut out the Greedy middleman" Walmart and Amazon are middlemen too!
[edited by Crabbyappleton on 11.10.2005 15:55]

I frequently see new releases on sale the week of release for < US $ 15 at Best Buy/Circuit City, etc. Not sure if it was the article or CDFreaks comments, but it was implied that the PPV still wouldn't be until a month or two after the DVD hit stores. For this to be a reasonable option, it should be available at least as soon as the DVD was release, if not before. I think the $17 price is still a bit steep. PPV is generally about $4 last I saw, with some even cheaper. Also, would you have the choice of WS or PS, or would you just get the crappy PS format that you'd get on PPV? The idea definitely has some possibility, but it still needs work.