In One Day Apple Trades Away Transformers and POTC In HD For Minor League HD Titles
We lose Transformers completely and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End to the Purchase Only list for the following HD jems: The 24 Hour Woman, Conspiracy, Kickboxer 3: The Art of War, The Magnificent Seven Ride!, Steep and My Kid Could Paint That.
Along with Transformers and POTC, earlier in the week Ratatouille mysteriously disappeared from the HD rental list, only to become a purchase only title. I hope this isn’t a trend for Apple as an attempt to drive people to purchase A List titles to please the studios or pad their “purchase” sales numbers when it comes time to brag about how successful this new “purchase” venture is.
Written by Eddie V. on May 2, 2008
Filed Under: Movies
Tags: apple tv, HD, Pirates of the Caribbean, Purchase, rental, Transformers
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View CommentsCHASH
May 2nd, 2008 at 11:16 pm
“I hope this isn’t a trend for Apple as an attempt to drive people to purchase A List titles to please the studios or pad their “purchase” sales numbers when it comes time to brag about how successful this new “purchase” venture is.”
An interesting conspiracy theory, or just a bit of healthy derision?
Sarcasm aside, I’m quite sure that Apple has not been deputized to decide which titles are rent, buy or rent/buy. And although I too am am not amused with the little game of musical chairs, I think the movie studios are the ones to blame, don’t you think?
I think when we watch this whole game so closely (forest for the trees, and all that…) as to analyze each and every move, it’s easy to lose a bit of objectivity.
matrix6028
May 3rd, 2008 at 4:37 am
I agree Chash – but this is a disturbing trend. I hate bring this up again – but how does Vudu’s library compare? If this is truly dictated by the Studios, then the Vudu library should be doing the same.
Back when 300 was released on AppleTV, I noticed soon after it was removed. I ask Apple why, they told me people complaint about having too much ‘skin’. We, the people, requested it to have it removed? Too much skin? Now we have Zombie Strippers, but no 300??? Something is a ‘miss’ here?!
insanely_okay
May 3rd, 2008 at 9:40 am
Hmm, it’s the studios fault, not Apple’s?
Guess I’ll send that complaint about yanking Ratatouille to steve@pixar.com instead of steve@apple.com then…
YodaMac
May 3rd, 2008 at 11:59 am
Matrix –
My point is that the Studios are dragging their feet with Apple on purpose so that others (such as Vudu) can play “catch up”. They don’t want Apple to have as huge a market share as iTunes does with music, so they are not moving as fast as they could with iTunes, and instead pushing their other online partners as best they can.
So you can’t compare Vudu to AppleTV and simply say it’s NOT the studios fault. Each has their own deal and each are at the mercy (or lack thereof) of the Studios.
Conspiracy theory? yeah, but it makes sense too. It’s just too bad, since Apple could really shine in this area too. I guess they were just “too successful” with iTunes… and now everyone want’s a piece of their pie – or just to limit Apple’s piece of it.
flowerfeeder
May 3rd, 2008 at 1:52 pm
I’d trade Transformers for My Kid Could Paint That any day.
Great documentary.
I understand your frustrations, by the way. None of this rental/purchase stuff seems to make sense. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to what disappears and what stays. I guess if you see something that interests you, you’d better watch it asap before it is gone.
Off to watch Radio Bikini. Later…
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