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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

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