BitTorrent launches online video store to compete with
iTunes and YouTube
1 March 2007 BitTorrent has launched the BitTorrent
Entertainment Network, which is an online store for selling
movies, TV programmes and songs for download. By stepping
into the heels of Apple's iTunes and YouTube, BitTorrent
makes it clear they are not going to shu away from the cash
cow.
BitTorrent, which has been a safe heaven for unauthorised
file sharing for a long time, has created a software which
lets people swap movies and video ceontent online. And the
amazing thing is that all the major studios in Hollywood
have come forward to join hands with the BitTorrent and some
of them are 20th Century Fox, Lions Gate, MTV Networks,
Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
BitTorrent has currently 135million users and the users can
download the new films for USD 3.99 and the older titles for
USD 2.99. Music videos and TV shows cost USD 1.99. The
software in the file makes it impossible for the user to
copy the fillm illegally.
But there are two things which should be taken to
consideration. BitTorrent users have till now been using
video content illegally without paying any money to anyone.
Making these people pay for what they see, may prove to be
difficult for the company. So, it could act as a double
edged sword for BitTorrent.
Also, a large number of online video watchers are already
using Apple's iTunes where movies can be downloaded by
paying USD 9.99. So the existing iTunes users seem highly
unlikely to shift to a rather new competitor like BitTorrent
and may instead stay with iTunes only.
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