AOL Joins Movielink to Offer Flicks Over Broadband

A combination of the growing adoption of broadband and Apple's groundbreaking iTunes Music Store brought downloading music from the shadowy depths of the Internet to the mass market as a legitimate service.

Now, America Online is eying the next medium a high speed connection can offer its customers - movies. For a limited time, AOL has teamed up with Movielink to offer movie rental downloads for 99 cents USD or less.

From January 22 through February 26, 2.5 million AOL for Broadband members will have access to over 600 films that comprise the Movielink library at 80 percent off the regular price of $3.95 to $4.99 USD. Movies can be downloaded in either RealVideo or Windows Media formats, and be stored locally for up to 30 days.

Download times vary depending on file size, but films can be viewed before the file is complete. Movielink averages download times at between 50 to 90 minutes, with average playback possible within 2 to 10 minutes. Windows Media Player 9 or RealOne Player 2 and later is required. According to Movielink, there is no daily limit on views of movies.

"It is well known that this business wouldn't grow until the technology caught up. With Broadband starting to expand to a mass audience - so does the market for downloading movies," an AOL spokesperson told BetaNews. "It is in its early phases to become mass - yet this promotion is an indication we are getting closer."

Both AOL and arch rival MSN have recently branched out into the online music business and host exclusive video content for their members. Online movie rental carries this trend of offering on-demand entertainment one step further.

AOL for Broadband COO Kevin Conroy welcomed the co-brand agreement, releasing a statement saying that the service, "prides itself on providing its members with the most valuable content on the Web, and Movielink's downloadable films are an outstanding addition to the premier entertainment features we currently offer."