Disney Movies Anywhere Service Could Add Fox, Warner Bros., Sony, and Universal Movies

WDWNT on October 13, 2017

The Disney Movies Anywhere service debuted in 2014 as a cloud-based digital movie service, with an iOS and Web experience that allows users to discover, purchase, manage and watch movies from Disney, Pixar and Marvel from home or away. Since that time, Disney has been actively courting other studios to join the system, in an effort to combat dwindling DVD sales, poor box office performance, and the threat from streaming providers like Netflix.

Now it appears that 5 of the 6 major Hollywood movie studios will have content on the system as soon as next week.

Bloomberg is reporting that major studios such as 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures are among those joining the service. By banding together, the makers of the world’s most popular films are betting they can succeed in attracting more users than their previous attempts did.

Paramount Pictures is the only one of the six major studios that isn’t joining Movies Anywhere, because of a disagreement over financial terms, although they are reportedly supportive of the idea and may join later.

Disney Movies Anywhere uses a proprietary storage technology called KeyChest to let customers store and access movies at a single site, whether they’re purchased from iTunes, Amazon.com, Google, or Wal-Mart.

UltraViolet offers a competing product: an online locker with movies and TV shows from Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, Sony, Paramount, 20th Century Fox and dozens of other providers. Apparently UltraViolet isn’t performing as well as hoped, leading the studios to take another shot at the concept by backing Disney’s product.

“Disney Movies Anywhere” Lets You Watch Disney, Pixar and Marvel Movies From The Cloud

WDWNT on March 31, 2014

The Walt Disney Studios announced today the debut of an exclusive, cloud-based digital movie service, Disney Movies Anywhere – an iOS and Web experience that allows users to discover, purchase, manage and watch movies from Disney, Pixar and Marvel from home or away. iTunes will be the exclusive provider of the digital movies for the new service.

Disney Movies Anywhere logo[1]

“Disney Movies Anywhere offers an exceptional consumer experience built around some of the most beloved and popular entertainment brands in the world,” said Alan Bergman, President, The Walt Disney Studios. “This unique technology underscores Disney’s commitment to meeting our consumers where they are with the content they want, and we’re thrilled to debut with iTunes, the #1 digital media retailer in the world.”

The debut of Disney Movies Anywhere coincides with the digital release of Disney’s Frozen, the recent hit film, and features Disney’s 400+ title digital library. For a limited time, users of Disney Movies Anywhere who activate their account and link it to their iTunes account will receive a free copy of  Disney-Pixar’s The Incredibles.

Disney, a trusted creator of entertainment experiences for the whole family, is committed to making it easy for users to expand their digital movie libraries. Disney Movies Anywhere provides a seamless and family-friendly experience,  unlocks digital content across platforms and devices, and enables access to user-owned Disney digital content and movies in the Disney Movies Anywhere system and through iTunes.

Disney Movies Anywhere features an easy-to-use interface, in which users can explore live-action and animated films from Disney, Pixar, and Marvel; watch exclusive content and bonus features; preview upcoming offerings; and more. Users can simply connect their iTunes account to their Disney Movies Anywhere account to begin filling their Disney digital movie locker and watch movies online and on their devices. Featuring simultaneous access on multiple devices, Disney Movies Anywhere enables users to stream and download Disney movies on their iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch and Apple TV (through iCloud or using AirPlay). Disney Movies Anywhere also functions as a streaming movie service when users log in to the website on their desktop or laptop computers (Mac or PC).

“Disney Movies Anywhere is an adaptable digital ecosystem designed to help consumers consolidate their Disney movie collections and enjoy them for years to come,” said Jamie Voris, Chief Technology Officer, The Walt Disney Studios. “The beauty of this technology is that it enables us to work with iTunes and future provider partners to ensure movie lovers have streamlined access to all of their favorite Disney titles no matter which device they are on. The intuitive layout of the website and app creates an easy and enjoyable browsing environment for the whole family.”

Since 2008, Disney has included codes in select DVD and Blu-ray products redeemable for digital copies of Disney, Pixar, and Marvel films.These codes can now be redeemed through Disney Movies Anywhere, and Digital Copy titles previously redeemed in Disney Movie Rewards or via iTunes will automatically be active in both Disney Movies Anywhere and iTunes once a user logs into Disney Movies Anywhere and links it to their iTunes account. And, for the first time, consumers can now earn Disney Movie Rewards points for their future digital purchases through Disney Movies Anywhere.

The Disney Movies Anywhere App is available for free from the App Store on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch or at www.appstore.com/disney. Signup is also available through the Disney Movies Anywhere website.