ClickStar, a startup co-founded by actor Morgan Freeman and backed by many Hollywood icons, is set to launch the first ever first run movie distribution site on the web in a few weeks (December 15, 2006) with release of, 10 Items of Less. ClickStar users will be able to purchase a movie for about $20 and watch it on
the computer or a TV set with the help of a add-on device. Additionally, ClickStar will enable users to play a movie while it is still downloading. Lori McCreary, ClickStar co-founder, had this to say recently in a USAToday CEO Forum:
"ClickStar is a broadband entertainment service where you can get every movie that you can get on any other broadband entertainment service, but more. We've got first-run movies while they're still in theaters, like 10 Items or Less. You also have artist-created channels, so we're working with some of Hollywood's best-known personalities that have a deep-seated interest in a particular subject. For instance, Danny DeVito is a huge fan of documentaries, so Danny will be the voice of (the channel) Jersey Docs."
With everyone and their brother jumping into the online video market ClickStar's key differentiator will be in the strength of its content. Personally, I would pay to see a first run movie in the comfort of my living room the day it is released but some are skeptical of the opportunity. Additionally, I think there should be an option to buy to own, similar to purchasing a download to burn a DVD as $20 is about the price of a DVD these days.
Would you use ClickStar to download to watch a just released movie?
Bottom-line: If ClickStar can offer first run movie titles at the click of a button I am pretty confident that they will be successful. However, its pricing and ownership details still need to be tweaked to the liking of the general public as some companies offer users the ability to download to own the movie content to burn to a DVD the day of DVD release.
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