Interview with MovieBeam execs

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Interview with MovieBeam execs

After I posted about MovieBeam last week, their PR firm was kind enough to extend an interview invitation with a MovieBeam executive. I fired off ten questions and got the responses a couple days later. While some of the answers approach marketing soundbites, I was glad to hear several of the technical questions I had answered as it paints a more complete picture of what they are offering. Check it out:

Matt Haughey, PVRblog: I'm impressed to see that Moviebeam will be offering content from other studios aside from Disney. I imagine it was difficult to coordinate that. What studios will also be carrying films on the MovieBeam box?

MovieBeam: MovieBeam will offer movies from almost all major studios, including Dimension Films, Dreamworks SKG, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Miramax Films, New Line Cinema, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Universal Studios, Warner Bros., Touchstone Pictures, 20th Century Fox and Walt Disney Pictures.

MH: I couldn't find out from the details available what sorts of things Moviebeam is doing about film ratings. Are there systems in place to only show G and PG films unless a password is entered (like say, when I'm not home while my kids are)? Will the offerings be most popular G rated through R rated films?

MB: Parents can set weekly spending limits and restrict access to selections based on Motion Picture Association of America ratings - all by using a simple on-screen guide. Also, there will be no adult content.

MH: Companies have been talking about video on demand for going on ten years now, but this looks like the first viable application that could meet with broad mainstream demand. Is Disney seeing this as long-term venture to replace movie rental houses moving physical product like DVDs and Tapes?

MB: MovieBeam is part of a portfolio of services that we have for delivering movies to the consumer in the home - it augments current home movie viewing options but delivers even more value to movie fans. Over the years, Disney has used the power of technology to enhance the way consumers experience entertainment, adapting our content and our delivery accordingly. With the MovieBeam service, we have yet another opportunity to expand the movie-viewing options for consumers. We have been and will continue to provide product to video/DVD rental and retail outlets.

MH: I could imagine that with a system like Moviebeam in place, coordinating release schedules with DVD release might be less important. Do you someday see Moviebeam offering films that are still available in theaters or only recently out of theaters? Would Disney, et al, be comfortable moving more business into direct home VOD in leiu of theater chains?

MB: For current movies, windowing will vary title by title. Generally speaking, MovieBeam will offer titles in their "VOD" window: some titles will be available same-day or near to the VHS/DVD release date, while others will be offered in the traditional PPV window.

MH: With the explosion of the internet and constantly advancing home theater technology, security is a big focus for Hollywood these days. What sort of uses will be allowed for the Moviebeam content I've paid for?

MB: Once rented, movies can be watched multiple times during the 24-hour viewing period.

MH: Will the movies stick around forever on the box, or can I tape them legally to a VCR or recordable DVD?

MB: MovieBeam offers an ever-changing lineup of 100 movies, including New Releases and other Popular Favorites, all available twenty-four hours a day at the touch of a button. Each week the MovieBeam service automatically refreshes its offering with up to 10 new movies.

MovieBeam does not support the recording of movies off the set top box. The receiver features significant encryption and security systems and is enabled with analog copy protection capabilities.

MH: I'm intrigued to hear about how the transmission system works. It doesn't use cable, ethernet, or satellite, but instead uses an antenna. Is this an HDTV offshoot or something proprietary that Moviebeam developed in-house?

MB: The MovieBeam process works by first converting movies into data files, then these files are turned into a stream of bits which are inserted invisibly into a conventional television broadcast. The MovieBeam receiver separates the stream of bits from the television programming, reconstructs the files and saves them to the hard drive for later viewing. All movies are digital quality.

MH: If I'm buying content over the air, I'm concerned with my personal information being secure. How will security be handled in these devices? Is there an encryption standard being employed to protect my account info?

MB: Any personal information is transmitted over a conventional phone line.

MH: What is the video quality and format like, is it close to DVD quality or does it approach HDTV quality? Is the audio going to high digital quality? (5.1, DTS, etc)

MB: All movies on MovieBeam are digital quality. The MovieBeam Receiver supports "Surround Sound" via both Dolby® Prologic and Dolby Digital (AC3).

MH: How is the movie storage done? The box looks pretty small in the photos, so I couldn't imagine this is hard drive based. Do the movies stream over the air when starting playback or are they all stored locally?

MB: The MovieBeam receiver - manufactured by Samsung Electronics - is a first-of-its-kind device that automatically receives movies, stores them on its 160 GigaByte hard-drive, and gives consumers the opportunity to view them on their schedule.

I want to extend a big thanks to David and the MovieBeam folks for giving me the chance to do this interview.

by Matt Haughey October 6, 2003 in Products

Comments

Very cool! Clueful PR folks at MovieBeam...interesting....

Posted by: gen at Oct 6, 2003 11:23:12 PM

We did some work for a company (wehich I'll not name) which had this exact "distribute via the UHF signal" technology (back in 1998.) It's great to see it get out there. Of course for us folks here in San Franciso, we can't receive UHF/VHF 'cause of the hills.

:-)

Posted by: Marc Canter at Oct 7, 2003 9:28:38 AM

I have Moviebeam....it sure beats the heck out of going to blockbuster. In the area of quality Moviebeam needs improvement in the following areas
1. Not all movies are 5.1(some of the newer movies that were recorded with a 5.1 soundtrack on DVD are converted to 2 channel digital.
2. On a large screen tv(over 50") you can see artifacts and some of the color is washed out, quality a little bit better then a good S-VHS tape.
3. It seems moviebeam has more movies that are over 3 years old/would like to see more of the newer movie variety(this might improve over time.)
4. Movebeam and Samsung needs to be working on a HD box with component outputs, its only a matter of time when viewers buy more HD sets and demand more content.(a CSR representative said management was tossing the idea around)
5. Even though Moviebeam has claimed up to 5 new movies a week, I have not noticed to receive that many. (new movies at this time seem to hit Blockbuster before the moviebeam receiver, this needs to improve.)
6. Even though the moviebeam receiver has dd 5.1 optic outputs Previews of movies on the moviebeam can only be heard through the analog outputs. (since most of the movies are older and have only two channels it would be best to just use the 2 channel output rather then switch back and forth to the optic) if moviebeam comes out with a HD box everything would be component and optic. My guess is Moviebeam is waiting for MPEG 4 so they can store more bits on the receiver. As it is now, with the current MPEG 2, the Moviebeam's receiver's hard drive would have to be much larger to accomodate the HD content.

Posted by: Donald L LeMore at Jan 2, 2004 6:01:57 AM

While I do agree that the optimum situation would include priority release of new titles, it really does depend on an individuals viewing habits. I have found that the rental experience is best when I haven't been to the video store for a while, and then it seems like I want to see everything all at once ! But...that being stated, Moviebeam has so much more to offer to my personal freedom, as well as my wallet...(no late fees)...that I can't say enough about the viewing experience we as a family have enjoyed ! Hurrah for Moviebeam night...now we all have a chance to pick and choose what we watch as a group!

Posted by: Jess Bender at Oct 13, 2004 8:55:51 AM

I'm an Italian researcher and I have some question about MovieBeam: how much does the whole MovieBeam service cost?
Set Top Box retail price?
Fee price?
Compatibility with other (digital) devices?
Connectivity with Europe?
Possibility of bookmarking?
Thanks for all, Derek

Posted by: Derek Bertolazzi at Feb 17, 2005 2:31:22 AM

I love Movie Beam!!!!!!

When is it coming back? We sent our receiver back as instucted and have really missed it!

Posted by: Robin at Aug 27, 2005 10:56:18 AM

Did anyone have problems w/ the reception? (ie, the antenna didn't work?) Who set up the box for you?

Posted by: dan at Dec 8, 2005 4:28:44 PM

Moviebeam sounds good till you find out you have to have a landline. The cost of the landline is more then going to the video store + gas + snacks. If there was an model that used the internet instead it might change things.

Posted by: Nitrox at Mar 24, 2006 11:44:19 AM

You still need a box to get HD...I think that is their downfall.

Todd Lokken

Posted by: Todd Lokken at Apr 4, 2006 11:48:14 AM