iTunes movies finally reach Canada, UK - at a price

Stephen Withers
Thursday, 05 June 2008 03:01

Opinion and Analysis

It's been a slow process, but Apple has finally extended iTunes movie sales and rentals beyond the borders of the US. But potential customers might not be happy when they compare prices with the US.

While I'm prepared to give Apple the benefit of the doubt - negotiating rights on a country-by-country basis takes time, and local rightsholders might not be as keen as the US studios - it seems crazy to leave so much money on the table. We know there is a demand for the service by the way some overseas residents resort to trickery in order to download iTunes movies from the US store.

Yes, it's been a slow process, but Apple has finally extended iTunes movie sales and rentals to Canada and the UK. As in the US, movies are available for purchase beginning on the day they are released on DVD.

Other countries including Australia are still waiting for movies and TV shows to arrive at their local iTunes Stores.

Ironically, when movies first became available on the US iTunes Store, Robert Iger, president and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, said "our association with Apple is yet another example of how we continue to reach consumers on their terms, regardless the time, location or device." (My emphasis.)

But potential Canadian and British customers might not be so happy when they compare prices with those paid by their US cousins.