BitTorrent Adds More Digital Download Partners for February Launch
BitTorrent announced that they have added 20th Century Fox, G4, Kadokawa, Lionsgate, MTV Networks, Palm Pictures, Paramount and Starz Media as digital download partners, in addition to already signed partners Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Egami Media, Hart Sharp, Koch Entertainment and The Orchard.
BitTorrent expects to launch the digital download service in February, 2007, and pricing is to be determined. They will have download-to-own and video-on-demand options, as well as ad-supported content.
Tidbit from the release: "With many millions of users, BitTorrent traffic accounts for as much as 40 percent of all worldwide Internet traffic."
and why would those millions of users that have been using BitTorrent to get free movies want to pay for the service now? How many of the millions of folks that used Napster decided it was worth paying to visit the site?
Posted by: corey3rd | November 30, 2006 at 01:33 PM
As I understand BitTorrent, they achieve high bandwidth availability by having the content fed by many clients - the same clients that downloaded the content earlier (starting from a seed).
So, this will only work well if there are lots and lots of paying customers. Non-paying BitTorrent users don't help, because none of them have to pay content.
Will they hit critical mass and make this work? I ain't holdin' my breath.
Posted by: gir | November 30, 2006 at 04:36 PM
"How many of the millions of folks that used Napster decided it was worth paying to visit the site?"
Hopefully, none. I'm still holding a grudge over what the RIAA did to Napster, and suing their customers. Most of my music now comes from non-RIAA sources or downloads. They are never going to get my money again until they abandon this foolish anti-p2p crusade.
Posted by: type-cast | November 30, 2006 at 11:13 PM