Two efforts are underway to enable consumers to pay one price for permanent access to a movie or TV show across a wide variety of digital formats, such mobile phones, cable services, PCs, Blu-ray players, networked HDTVs, and other devices capable of playing back digital films. Both schemes could also extend the life of DVD and Blu-ray.
The DECE is working to develop a standard that would be adopted across its 45-member companies, which range from every major studio (except Disney) to Comcast, Intel, Microsoft and Best Buy. Digital movies bought under the DECE standard would be tied to digital content accessible through any other connected device using the DECE standard. A consumer could buy the latest Blu-ray movie at a store, then access that same movie through a set-top box on their TV, at a hotel, through a mobile phone, or any other device that’s part of the content ecosystem. DECE backers are hopeful that the group will approve a standard in 2010.
Walt Disney Studios is expected to unveil more details about its Keychest technology in the coming months. Keychest would allow consumers to buy a movie once and access it digitally through a broad range of connected devices from Disney partners. Rather than download content, it would be stored in the digital cloud.
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