Lots of gear that's still kicking around only has an analog connection with a cable box: like TiVos and Slingboxes made before 2004. And what about your TV? You'd likely be forced to upgrade to gear with digital ports (like HDMI) to watch movies protected with Selectable Output Control.

The studios are desperate to show on-demand movies over cable prior to their DVD release, but claim they can't without SOC. They say the tech protects their revenue by blocking easy analog copying—the so called "analog hole". Problem is, DVDs (a supposed secure format) get ripped and shared online, anyway.

Not only that, but it's almost a moot point. Warner Brothers (who signed the original SOC petition last year) released Observe and Report, and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past for video-on-demand this September—before their DVDs hit stores. Consumer advocacy groups, like Public Knowledge and the EFF, also point out that Magnolia Pictures, distributors like IFC, and more recently, Starz Media, are also doing VoD before DVD.

The MPAA says that the outputs would only be disabled for the new movies, and wouldn't impact any existing content. And they make the fair point that there's always a lag between new experiences early adopters get compared to those with older gear.

But I'm sorry MPAA, pull your head out of your arse. DVDs still get ripped, and one of the very studios you represent is still releasing on-demand movies prior to their DVD release. Why bother? Think about the huge customer base you're alienating, and stay away from the back of my TV. [Public Knowledge and PC Magazine via BoingBoing]

For owners of select TVs and Blu-ray players, Blockbuster OnDemand will function just as we've seen it before: as a broad on-demand film catalog with a decent selection of newer films. The press release is irritatingly indirect about which products will be supported, but Crave has parsed it for us:

LNB650 series, LNB750 series, UNB7000 series, UNB7100 series, UNB8000 series, PNB650 series, PNB850 series, PNB860 series.

In addition, it looks like virtually all 2009 connected Blu-ray players from the company will support the service, since they already support other, similar ones, including Netflix. Expect the relevant firmware updates and widget availability in fall of this year.

UPDATE: The official supported list turned out to be a bit shorter: BD-P1600, BD-P3600, BD-P4600, HT-BD1250, HT-BD7200, HT-BD8200.

[Blockbuster via Crave]

Blockbuster and Samsung Sign Agreement to Deliver BLOCKBUSTER(R) OnDemand Services to Select Samsung HDTVs, Home Theater Systems and Blu-ray Players

Millions of homes across America to gain access to BLOCKBUSTER OnDemand movies

Samsung products to also be sold at select BLOCKBUSTER(R) stores and online at blockbuster.com

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J., and DALLAS, July 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI, BBI.B), a global leader in entertainment, and Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today announced they are joining forces to enable consumers to access Blockbuster's vast and growing library of premium digital entertainment via select new Samsung HDTVs, home theater systems and Blu-ray players. The new services will be available in the fall of 2009 and are expected to provide millions of homes across America access to Blockbuster's digital library of movies. Additionally, as part of the agreement, Blockbuster OnDemand will have preferred positioning on the Blu-ray interfaces.

The BLOCKBUSTER OnDemand service provides comprehensive on-screen search and browsing capabilities, as well as full details, ratings, trailers, and other information about each movie directly on the television, eliminating the need for customers to manage a viewing queue on their PC. Once a customer rents or buys a movie, they simply press play to begin instant viewing. Blockbuster's adaptive streaming technology ensures quality viewing with immediate and uninterrupted playback.

"This agreement underscores the growing opportunities around digital delivery and the plan to make the BLOCKBUSTER brand as available on screens as it has always been on storefronts. The Blu-ray players BLOCKBUSTER will feature represent the perfect bridge between physical stores and digital delivery by providing streaming digital access to the newest hit movies and high definition Blu-ray product, which is available in our stores and through BLOCKBUSTER By Mail," said Jim Keyes, Blockbuster Chairman and CEO. "We look forward to working with Samsung to showcase their select products in Blockbuster stores while making Blockbuster's digital library available in homes across America."

"Samsung constantly seeks ways to provide greater value to consumers through innovation and connectivity," said Tim Baxter, President of Samsung Electronics America. "Our strategic alliance with Blockbuster means that we will provide consumers another significant avenue to access rich content and a great viewing experience."

The alliance also includes the sale of Samsung Blu-ray players with the integrated BLOCKBUSTER OnDemand service at Blockbuster's thousands of participating corporate-owned stores and franchise stores and online at blockbuster.com, in addition to Samsung's existing retail channels.

The companies expect to have the BLOCKBUSTER OnDemand service integrated into new Samsung Blu-ray disc players and HDTVs by the fall of 2009. Consumers who already own select 2009 Samsung Blu-ray players and home theater systems, as well as Samsung LCD and Plasma HDTVs Series 650 and above, and Samsung LED HDTVs Series 7000 and above, can access the BLOCKBUSTER OnDemand offering at no additional charge by conducting a firmware upgrade (Blu-ray players and home theater systems) or downloading the BLOCKBUSTER OnDemand widget (HDTVs).

Starting today TiVo lovers can expect to see Amazon HD availability on their Series 3 / TiVo HD boxes. HD content is priced about the same as normal SD downloads with HD TV shows starting at $3 and newly released HD movies at $4-$5. There's no details yet as to the quality of the picture or download speeds, but from the beta testing HD downloads are supposedly "outstanding" and handle surround sound very well.

With Amazon HD VOD, Netflix streaming HD, and the recently announced Blockbuster OnDemand, TiVo is slowly working to make paid internet content available on your TV. This is all great news but what about some Hulu love? Please TiVo, we beg of you...

THE FUTURE IS CRYSTAL CLEAR: HIGH DEFINITION DOWNLOADS FROM AMAZON VIDEO ON DEMAND COMING TO A TIVO DVR NEAR YOU

ALVISO, Calif. – April 21, 2009 - TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO), the creator of and a leader in television services for digital video recorders (DVRs), today announced the availability of HD movies and television shows for download from Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) directly to their television set. Starting today, broadband connected subscribers with a Series3™, TiVo HD, or TiVo HD XL will have access to high quality HD downloads available from Amazon Video On Demand.

Movie and television lovers from coast to coast can browse through hundreds of selections, all without having to leave their living room and at the fraction of the cost of purchasing a Blu-ray disc. High definition episodes of current TV seasons will be available for purchase at $2.99 and top new release HD movies will be available for rental from $3.99 - $4.99. The experience is made even better with the vast majority of titles providing Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, offering a full surround sound experience.

"Consumers are seeking affordable entertainment alternatives to an expensive trip to the movies. With HD downloads for movies and TV shows, TiVo and Amazon can transform any night into a memorable movie experience, all for a fraction of the cost of the theater," said Tara Maitra, general manager and vice president of content services and advertising sales at TiVo Inc. "Our customers now have access to a new world of ultra high quality HD television and movie choices available when the DVDs are released, something no other DVR, cable, or satellite company can match."

TiVo Search, which is optimized for HDTVs with a wide screen display, will include HD results from Amazon along with broadcast and cable programs when a user performs a search.

"TiVo is enabling customers to access our unparalleled library of hit movies and TV shows, bringing them directly into the home where friends and family can watch from the comfort of the couch," said Bill Carr, Amazon vice president music and video. "Together with TiVo, Amazon Video On Demand is excited to offer HD and increase the selection, quality, and convenience for the TiVo community."

To activate their broadband-connected TiVo DVR, subscribers can log onto Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/videoondemand/tv. After a one-time registration, they can use the remote to search and browse the Amazon selections right from the TV screen, then download the selection directly to the TiVo DVR. To receive more information on how to download HD content from Amazon via your TiVo DVR visit www.tivo.com/amazon.

It's a joint venture with cross-marketing involved, but all you need to know is that you'll be able to rent and buy Blockbuster's OnDemand movies directly from your TiVo at some later date.

The image above is from Blockbuster's streaming box, so our guess is that TiVo's solution will look more TiVo-y. We wish Blockbuster would make their digital content more like Netflix's streaming solution—you know, more free—but this is better than nothing.

Akimbo hit play in 2002 with a hardware-based VOD set top box that allowed consumers to download television shows from its 200 partners. When the hardware didn't work out, the company branched off into the PC software business with Akimbo for Media Center in the fall of 2005. It struggled until 2006, when the company received a much-needed shot in the arm from Cisco and at&t to the tune of $15 million.

In February 2008, Akimbo shifted, again, to a video service model, but failed to raise a targeted $8 million in funding. High-level executive squabbles earlier in the year also threatened to derail the fledgling company, and this week they apparently came to a boil. More than a dozen employees were terminated on May 22, with a three-person skeleton team staying on to oversee the company's final days. All told, Akimbo received approximately $56 million over the course of its existence for basically nothing. If only Gizmondo would take the hint. [TechCrunch]

What's impressive is how HBO got Apple to negotiate beyond its usual terms. If you remember, the fixed $1.99 episode price and profit splitting are what led to the Apple/NBC divorce in the fall. Now, Apple has backed down from its stance and appears to be into the flexible pricing scheme. Portfolio believes Apple wants this partnership to drive Apple TV sales. I also wonder if NBC on the Zune Marketplace shook 'em up a little.

And if HBO does come to iTunes, it will be their first mainstream venture into the online media market. They've been hesitant up until now, presumably because it might cannibalize subscription revenue. While they are testing an online on-demand system with a planned national rollout, it's currently only available in Wisconsin, and requires a subscription to HBO through cable providers.

While no specifics have been declared, Portfolio hints that it could simply be older/cancelled shows, such as Deadwood and The Larry Sanders Show. This would make sense, because watching new shows would still require a subscription, and HBO doesn't show many replays of shows no longer in production. In any case, Portfolio says this will likely play out in the next two weeks, with a simultaneous announcement/availability of content. Let's keep our fingers crossed. [Portfolio via iPodNN]

Movie debuts, television series premieres, action trilogies and Oscar-winning films pack Comcast's on-demand service

More Hot Hits Added Every Week to Entertain Viewers and Deliver More High-Definition Choices Available Anywhere, Any Time

Top VOD Titles Include: The Bourne Trilogy, Michael Clayton, the Rush Hour Trilogy, and Academy-Award Winners Ray, Traffic, The Pianist, The Queen, Rain Man, The Departed, Happy Feet

PHILADELPHIA, PA - February 4, 2008 - Comcast, the nation's leading provider of entertainment, information and communications, announced top new titles on its signature video on demand (VOD) service, most available in HD. The new lineup includes:

* Hollywood hits that are available the same day the films hit DVD;
* Hot television series premiering on VOD at least one week before airing on linear television channels;
* Two action-packed, blockbuster trilogies; and
* Special Academy Award-winning films for every movie buff.

The news follows Comcast's announcement of Project Infinity, its vision to deliver exponentially more content choice on TV, including more high-definition (HD), sports, movies, kids' programs and network TV shows, which the company introduced at the Consumer Electronics show on Jan 8th.

"Television viewing has changed and consumers have an insatiable appetite for personalized content delivered directly to their TVs. We're leading the charge and our customers love it" said Derek Harrar, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Video Services for Comcast. "With top titles like the Bourne and Rush Hour trilogies, we're giving our customers more movies, more shows and more HD than anyone else&mdashall available at the click of their remote control."

These new viewing choices are part of Comcast's video-on-demand lineup with more than 10,000 VOD selections available each month. Comcast customers now are selecting On Demand more than 100 times per second, with about 275 million views monthly; and since 2003, the company has seen viewership grow dramatically, surpassing six billion views.

Comcast's On Demand highlights are outlined below, along with links to details about each of them provided by Fancast.com, which Comcast also launched at CES. Fancast.com is the first online destination that enables users to watch, manage and find entertainment content wherever it is available - on Fancast, on television, online, on DVD or in theaters.

Hollywood blockbuster trilogies available On Demand include:

Bourne Trilogy
Available now, also in HD
http://www.fancast.com/movies/The-Bourne-Identity/16910/main
http://www.fancast.com/movies/The-Bourne-Supremacy/10291/main
http://www.fancast.com/movies/The-Bourne-Ultimatum/94583/main

Rush Hour Trilogy
Available now, also in HD
http://www.fancast.com/movies/Rush-Hour/11286/main
http://www.fancast.com/movies/Rush-Hour-2/8051/main
http://www.fancast.com/movies/Rush-Hour-3/96289/main

Feature films available On Demand the same day they're released on DVD, including:

Shoot Em Up
Available now, also in HD
http://www.fancast.com/movies/Shoot-em-Up/91231/main

Mr. Woodcock
Available now, also in HD
http://www.fancast.com/movies/Mr.-Woodcock/9015/main

Invasion
Available now, also in HD
http://www.fancast.com/movies/The-Invasion/15476/main

The Brave One
Available 2/5, also in HD
http://www.fancast.com/movies/The-Brave-One/15335/main

Rendition
Available 2/19, also in HD
http://www.fancast.com/movies/Rendition/96130/main

No Reservations
Available 2/12, also in HDhttp://www.fancast.com/movies/No-Reservations/8030/main

Michael Clayton
Available 2/19, also in HD
http://www.fancast.com/movies/Michael-Clayton/30659/main

Academy Award-winning favorites this month;
With more than 30 Academy Award-winning movies available On Demand in February, any movie buff can find what they're looking for, with titles like Ray*, The Pianist*, Traffic*, The Queen*, Dances with Wolves, Rain Man, The Departed and Gandhi—as well as family favorites like Happy Feet and Babe* for younger fans.
*These titles also are available in HD.

Premium and free television premieres available On Demand include:

The Tudors
First season available 2/18 to all Comcast Digital Cable customers, even if they don't subscribe to Showtime, also in HD; second season premiering in March, available to Showtime subscribers, also in HD
http://www.fancast.com/tv/The-Tudors/95710/main

The Wire
Available now
http://www.fancast.com/tv/The-Wire-%28HBO%29/88049/main

Flavor of Love
Available 2/4, also in HD
http://www.fancast.com/tv/Flavor-of-Love/1706/main

Also available are the highly anticipated series, Whitest Kids U' Know and Pinks, all also in HD, and the movie Husband for Hire.

All the usual VOD rules apply still: 24-hour viewing window, etc. This take on VOD is like Hollywood's wet dream though, since there is literally no cannibalization of the DVD sale, and they rake in most of the money here, not the distributor.

I think a better solution—i.e., one people use, maybe—would be giving you the option to buy the DVD after you've watched it on demand, and for a reduced price. If I'm watching something on demand, I'm really just checking it out—I don't know I want the DVD. And if I really want something on DVD, especially on release day, I haul my ass over to whichever B&M or online store has it cheapest and buy it. The way it is now, it's like a mutated Goomba from the Super Mario Bros. movie, which has "fail" written all over it. [CNN via Broadband Reports]

Thanks, Chris!
BBC Trust Provisionally Approves On-Demand TV [via Web TV Wire]

This box is currently only available in standard definition with high-definition units coming in the future. It will run an addition $10 to your existing DISH fees and is currently available to residents in Ohio and San Antonio. Image via Zatz – Travis Hudson

AT&T launches box with Web, satellite [Via Zatz]