Vudu creates bargain channel: 99 movies for 99 cents

The 99-cent offerings include a good assortment of worthwhile movies--including some recent hits.

(Credit: Vudu)

One of the biggest beefs with the Internet video-on-demand services offered on the Apple TV, Vudu, TiVo (via Amazon Unbox), and Xbox 360 is that the movies are just too expensive--usually around $4 for new movies, $5 to $6 for HD films, and a bit less for older "catalog" releases.

Watch just five or six movies a month, and you can easily rack up a $30 charge--not very appealing compared with Netflix's all-you-can-eat pricing plans.

But Vudu took a step in the right direction Wednesday with its new "99 for 99 cents" section, which will offer a rotating list of films for just under a buck. Even better, the initial list--already available on Vudu's Web site--isn't crammed full of the usual sort of dreck you see on such virtual bargain tables.

In addition to some older favorites (Animal House, Groundhog Day, Austin Powers, Chinatown, The Big Lebowski, and many of the Star Trek and Jack Ryan movies), you'll also find recent hits such as I Am Legend and Cloverfield. Not bad at all--though it's worth noting that all of these are in standard-def, not HD. Vudu's also extending its recent "renewal" policy, which lets people rewatch movies they've already purchased in the past seven days (99 cents for standard-def reruns, $1.99 for HD).

Remember that nearly all of the pricing and viewing limitations--such as the fact that rentals must be watched within 30 days of downloading, and within 24 hours of first clicking "play"--are imposed by the Hollywood studios that own the films (rather than the hardware makers). To that end, it'll be interesting to see whether Vudu's rivals begin offering a similar discount tier. In the meantime, though, Vudu's got a another distinguishing feature over its competition.

[joshua.goldman]

now if they would lower the prices of some of the TV shows (50 cent pilots aside), I'd be all set. I want to watch/rent the shows not own them and $1.99, while cheaper than buying the DVDs, is too steep for a 24-minute sitcom that again, I don't want to own. I'm guessing this is also a stipulation from the studios and not VUDU's doing, but I hope this changes sometime soon.

[flyworld3]

I think it's meh. I am not into the streaming video thing, since that's another box I have to buy/rent/install. The XBOX 360 thing is a good idea, but I am more into my PS3 rather than my XBOX 360. Maybe if my cable provider would give me this offer, a Time Warner Cable/Vudu tie-in, I could use my box to watch Vudu. But that's wishful thinking.

[tech_crazy]

The title is gross misleading. Makes it seem that is 99 movies for 99 cents meaning 1 cent each when it actually is 99 movies for 99 cents each. Please fix the title so that it doesn't confuse others too.

[sapriactivityfine]

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