Apple inks landmark deal to sell movies on iTunes

NEW YORK - Apple has reached a deal with the majority of the major Hollywood film studios to sell movie downloads through its iTunes store on the same day that the titles are released on DVD.

The list of studios include 20th Century Fox, The Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros, Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Lionsgate, Image Entertainment and First Look Studios.

The first new release titles to go on sale this week include 'American Gangster' and 'The Diving Bell and the Butterfly'. Other recent movies also available include 'Juno', 'Cloverfield', 'I Am Legend', 'There Will Be Blood' and 'Alvin and the Chipmunks'

Eddy Cue, Apple's vice-president of , said: "We're thrilled to bring iTunes store customers new films for purchase day-and-date with the DVD release.

"We think movie fans will love being able to buy their favourites from major and independent studios."

Only US consumers can access the movie downloads area on iTunes at present. New titles are priced at $14.99 (£7.60) and most back catalogue titles at $9.99. The movies can also be rented at $2.99 for a library title and $3.99 for new releases.

The deal could severely impact the DVD industry, including video rental companies such as Blockbuster, because they will no longer have the window of exclusivity before movies are released online.

Studios previously gave DVD releases a head start of as much as 30 to 45 days over other distribution outlets to help preserve a major income source.

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