Star Wars: Digital Collection

[Mega Powers]

Re: Star Wars: Digital Collection

Even though it is UV, Star Wars (A New Hope) currently only plays on Vudu. Other digital services sale Star Wars, but these services do not support UV, so you essentially get a non-UV version. Star Wars should show up in your Flixster library, but you won't be able to play/download it. It does not show up on Cinemanow, though it will show up as unplayable if you open up the Cinemanow player app.

This movie also appears in your MGo UV library, but it cannot be played. This one is odd because M-Go actually sales the movie and supports UV.

[tsken02]

Re: Star Wars: Digital Collection

I wanted the HD downloads for my iPad, so I purchased thru DMA (with points). I knew at the time I'd only get 5 of the 6 on Vudu. I'll need to think hard about the added cost of getting it on Vudu. I use Vudu for most of my watching at home, but I need downloads for the road. Vudu doesn't give me HD downloads to my iPad. I can always pop in the Blu-ray at home.

I don't see A New Hope listed on CinemaNow at all.

Flixster shows A New Hope, but I don't see any UV logo. The only purchase links are to iTunes and Amazon. Where's Vudu?

I do see the UV logo on MGO, and it's available for purchase.

[rdodolak]

Re: Star Wars: Digital Collection

HD downloads are really tied to the studio. If Vudu isn't offering it then usually the studio is the one to blame as they're the one not allowing it.

[tsken02]

Re: Star Wars: Digital Collection

HD downloads are really tied to the studio. If Vudu isn't offering it then usually the studio is the one to blame as they're the one not allowing it.

I can get every movie in my collection in HD on my iPad from iTunes. I don't know of a single movie I can download from Vudu to my iPad in HD. I suspect it's an Apple tax thing.

[tsken02]

Re: Star Wars: Digital Collection

I did see a remark on the Vudu blog in Feb that they were working on HD for the iPad. Not sure if they are considering streaming or downloading though.

http://blog.vudu.com/?p=11313

FWIW, I don't think it's good for the studios that only one retailer supports download of HD on IOS.

[TJLamb0518]

Re: Star Wars: Digital Collection

Sigh...finally decide to just bite the bullet and buy them, go to vudu and find they are back up to 99. I was already hesitant about buying it for 89 (given how many times I've bought these movies) and 10 bucks should not make a difference. But it does. Especially with the persistent rumors about a blu-ray release with the original theatrical trilogy coming later this year.

Guess I'll just wait until May the Fourth and hope for the best.

[disneywildcat]

Re: Star Wars: Digital Collection

I do see the UV logo on MGO, and it's available for purchase.

After seeing the UV logo on MGo's listing of A New Hope, I purchased it to see if it would transfer to UV and then to Vudu. It hasn't appeared yet in my UV library (I tried unlinking and linking my MGo and UV accounts twice). I emailed MGo Support, and the representative who replied states because the Star Wars Collection is Disney, that it isn't compatible with UV. And then he stated anything with a UV symbol is UV compatible.

I emailed back stating that Episode IV is distributed by Fox, and that their listing shows it with a UV symbol. Hopefully, I get a better response soon.

About Cinemanow, I did ask them if they had A New Hope and they stated they were still trying to license it. Nook Video also has A New Hope but it doesn't support UV like most of Nook Video's content, further showing why UV isn't that great at getting the other service providers to offer a seemless experience.

I do hope in the future Disney is able to get A New Hope to become DMA eligible. I would imagine they probably will try to in the future. Keep in mind, Marvel Studios' The Incredible Hulk doesn't have any mention in DMA, but it's a Marvel Studios film still (though it was distributed by Universal and is UV eligible despite the film not being owned by Universal).

[TJLamb0518]

Re: Star Wars: Digital Collection

So......it's back to 99? Too pricey for something I've bought on VHS, DVd and Blu already.



Hopefully there's a May the fourth sale in our future.

[diamond204]

Re: Star Wars: Digital Collection

I do hope in the future Disney is able to get A New Hope to become DMA eligible. I would imagine they probably will try to in the future. Keep in mind, Marvel Studios' The Incredible Hulk doesn't have any mention in DMA, but it's a Marvel Studios film still (though it was distributed by Universal and is UV eligible despite the film not being owned by Universal).

I am pretty sure Disney has no rights to the two Hulk films. After Disney bought Marvel, they struck a deal with Paramount that brought back to them the rights to Iron Man, Capt. America, and Thor. Part of that deal was they also bought the rights to all of the existing films in those franchises (Iron Man 1&2, Capt. America 1, and Thor 1). These were all UV titles, and those who bought early digital copies of them received UV copies. Now they are all DMA titles. Marvel did not make a similar deal with Universal and Hulk. Future Hulk movies will be Universal films (Mark Ruffallo recently confirmed this). Disney can only use The Hulk in Avengers films. So the Hulk movies will remain UV until Marvel gets the full rights to Hulk, and also purchases the distribution rights to the two Hulk films.

I do believe Disney will buy the rights to "A New Hope". After they make a billion dollars with Episode 7, I can see them paying a ridiculous amount of $$$ to Fox to buyout Ep. 4. Hopefully by the 40th anniversary of Star Wars (2017) Disney will have all rights, and then we have a great chance of seeing them release the original trilogy in a "non special edition format".

[disneywildcat]

Re: Star Wars: Digital Collection

I am pretty sure Disney has no rights to the two Hulk films. After Disney bought Marvel, they struck a deal with Paramount that brought back to them the rights to Iron Man, Capt. America, and Thor. Part of that deal was they also bought the rights to all of the existing films in those franchises (Iron Man 1&2, Capt. America 1, and Thor 1). These were all UV titles, and those who bought early digital copies of them received UV copies. Now they are all DMA titles. Marvel did not make a similar deal with Universal and Hulk. Future Hulk movies will be Universal films (Mark Ruffallo recently confirmed this). Disney can only use The Hulk in Avengers films. So the Hulk movies will remain UV until Marvel gets the full rights to Hulk, and also purchases the distribution rights to the two Hulk films.

While Disney may not have the distribution rights to either of the Hulk films, Marvel Studios (and indirectly Disney) is the owner of the 2008 The Incredible Hulk film (owning a film is different than owning the distribution rights, as Marvel Studios earns most of the profits from the film), as Marvel Studios developed, produced, and funded the film (hence the copyright of the film belongs to MVL Film Finance LLC, the entity that Marvel Studios credited their Phase 1 films to).

This is what Disney reported to shareholders and the SEC when they bought out Paramount's rights to the Paramount's distributed phase one films:

Prior to the Company’s acquisition of Marvel in fiscal 2010, Marvel had agreements in place for third-party studios to distribute Marvel produced films including Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Iron Man 3, The Avengers, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger and The Incredible Hulk. Under these arrangements, Marvel incurred the cost to produce the films and pays the third-party studio a distribution fee. In fiscal 2011, prior to their theatrical release, the Company purchased the distribution rights for The Avengers and Iron Man 3 from a third-party studio (Paramount) and agreed to pay fees to that studio based on the performance of those films, subject to a minimum guarantee. In fiscal 2013, the Company purchased the remaining distribution rights for Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger, which have all been released. Going forward, the Company will distribute all Marvel produced films with the exception of The Incredible Hulk.

However, while Marvel Studios producing the 2008 film did allow them to be able to regain production rights to the Hulk character, it seems that Universal then was able to keep future distribution rights to solo films involving the Hulk character. Considering Universal's history with the Hulk character (since the Incredible Hulk TV series), Disney and Marvel may just keep the status quo (let Universal distribute future solo Hulk films) or buy the distribution rights to the 2008 film and future films. Either way, Universal can't produce a Hulk film by itself because it only has distribution rights to the Hulk character, not production rights (since they didn't meet the deadline to produce a sequel to the 2003 film).

As for A New Hope, it finally transferred from MGo to UV and then to Vudu. So hopefully now it works the other way around for those who purchased the film on Vudu.

[diamond204]

Re: Star Wars: Digital Collection

While Disney may not have the distribution rights to either of the Hulk films, Marvel Studios (and indirectly Disney) is the owner of the 2008 The Incredible Hulk film (owning a film is different than owning the distribution rights, as Marvel Studios earns most of the profits from the film), as Marvel Studios developed, produced, and funded the film (hence the copyright of the film belongs to MVL Film Finance LLC, the entity that Marvel Studios credited their Phase 1 films to).

This is what Disney reported to shareholders and the SEC when they bought out Paramount's rights to the Paramount's distributed phase one films:



However, while Marvel Studios producing the 2008 film did allow them to be able to regain production rights to the Hulk character, it seems that Universal then was able to keep future distribution rights to solo films involving the Hulk character. Considering Universal's history with the Hulk character (since the Incredible Hulk TV series), Disney and Marvel may just keep the status quo (let Universal distribute future solo Hulk films) or buy the distribution rights to the 2008 film and future films. Either way, Universal can't produce a Hulk film by itself because it only has distribution rights to the Hulk character, not production rights (since they didn't meet the deadline to produce a sequel to the 2003 film).

As for A New Hope, it finally transferred from MGo to UV and then to Vudu. So hopefully now it works the other way around for those who purchased the film on Vudu.

Sounds correct (Uni has distribution only rights to the past and future Hulk films). Like with Ep. IV, they won't add to DMA until they secure a buyback deal (or fallback deal like they have with the Lucasfilm owned SW films).

[disneywildcat]

Re: Star Wars: Digital Collection

Sounds correct (Uni has distribution only rights to the past and future Hulk films). Like with Ep. IV, they won't add to DMA until they secure a buyback deal (or fallback deal like they have with the Lucasfilm owned SW films).

Universal likely owns the 2003 Hulk film outright, as it was developed pre-Marvel Studios, back when Marvel licensed characters to the studios and only earned a licensing fee (such as a percentage of the film's profit) as the studios would produce the films.

As for Star Wars films produced after A New Hope, Fox's distribution rights apparently were limited to theatrical and home video distribution before Disney's purchase of Lucasfilm, while Lucasfilm retained the broadcast and digital distribution rights (unsure if Fox didn't ask for them or Lucasfilm insisted on retaining those rights, Disney's FY2013 SEC filing only states that Lucasfilm retained such rights prior to the sale). Hence why all of the other films are DMA eligible. It appears either Disney wasn't able to buy out Fox's full distribution rights to A New Hope, or Disney will wait to buy out Fox's distribution rights to Episode IV on a later date.

[Grey Ghost]

Re: Star Wars: Digital Collection

Universal likely owns the 2003 Hulk film outright, as it was developed pre-Marvel Studios, back when Marvel licensed characters to the studios and only earned a licensing fee (such as a percentage of the film's profit) as the studios would produce the films.

As for Star Wars films produced after A New Hope, Fox's distribution rights apparently were limited to theatrical and home video distribution before Disney's purchase of Lucasfilm, while Lucasfilm retained the broadcast and digital distribution rights (unsure if Fox didn't ask for them or Lucasfilm insisted on retaining those rights, Disney's FY2013 SEC filing only states that Lucasfilm retained such rights prior to the sale). Hence why all of the other films are DMA eligible. It appears either Disney wasn't able to buy out Fox's full distribution rights to A New Hope, or Disney will wait to buy out Fox's distribution rights to Episode IV on a later date.

The message they list on A New Hope in Disney Movies Anywhere "This movie is currently unavailable on Disney Movies Anywhere" suggests that there could be on going or scheduled negotiations to make A New Hope part of DMA. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

[YankeeGator6]

Re: Star Wars: Digital Collection

I really don't care which studio owns the movies, but I wish Disney had kept the 20th Century Fox fanfare at the beginning. The movies just don't feel the same without the classic opening. I know that other studios that have bought the rights to many of MGM's back catalog have kept the classic lion roar, even though MGM doesn't own them any longer.

[Mega Powers]

Re: Star Wars: Digital Collection

If you purchased Star Wars (A New Hope) on Vudu an noticed it had not been playable on other UV providers, it now available on the other major UV services. You should notice it popping up in your other accounts now.