Amazon combines disc with on demand video

Amazon's making the decision between on demand online video and physical media easier by offering both for select movies.

The Disc + On Demand promotion lets you stream or download a movie for instant viewing, but also sends a Blu-ray or DVD copy in the mail. It's the best of both worlds for people who want to watch a movie right away, but would also like a copy in physical form.

ADVERTISEMENT

amazondiscondemand

Sound too good to be true? It is, sort of. Amazon's fine print calls the on demand version is a "gift with purchase" of the physical media and says the offer is "valid for a limited time only." Some of the digital copies are only available as rentals, meaning you'll have 30 days from purchase to start watching, and 24 hours once the movie begins. If you return the DVD or Blu-ray, you get charged full price for the on demand version. Also, the offer's only open to U.S. customers.

Amazon's selection for the deal is also pretty skimpy. There are just over 300 movies available through Disc + On Demand, compared to almost 39,000 on demand movies, more than 330,000 DVDs and more than 5,600 movies on Blu-ray. It's not all bad, with classics like Superman and some new films like Bruno, but it's just a sliver of Amazon's entire library.

ADVERTISEMENT

Let's hope Amazon expands Disc + On Demand, and that it's limited scope and availability are just a taste of what's to come. Some studios already offer digital files copies in the same package as their DVDs and Blu-ray discs, so Amazon's plan shouldn't be too disruptive to their business model. If anything, it'll encourage sales, which they're desperate for these days.

No posts to display