HD Film Downloads Truth

HD or High Definition (not an abbreviation for Harley Davidson!) is a complicated debate when it comes to downloads. Do HD Film downloads exist?


Question:
Is there such thing as high definition (HD) Downloads?

This question has created a divided community with people arguing that it simply is not 'high definition'. Some are even saying that BlueRay or HD-DVD won?t make it because HD downloads will simply be delivered over the Internet.


Answer:
No

The answer is no, there is no such thing as HD downloads. It is not HD that people receive when downloading a movie on their PC or Laptop via the Internet.

Why HD Film Downloads do not exist?

Just because it happens to be a high resolution, you will only be getting a video stream that?s 1.3 mbps (megabits per second) at best.

You can call it whatever you like and you can even claim it meets the minimum definition of HD because it?s 720p (1280�720) resolution but it is not High Definition (HD) for the simple reason that the bit rate isn?t enough.

A regular 480i DVD is either 2, 5, or 8 mbps and most modern dual-layer 8 GB DVD releases are at least 5 mbps but more likely 8 mbps. A typical DVD movie is approximately 6 GBs of data while a typical ?HD? movie you download is only about 1.5 GBs of data.

The best movie download on the net is Vizumi.com who are advertising HD Film Downloads.

I feel this is more of a 'street' name given to them because they are 'high quality' downloads rather than the blog standard downloads. Maybe then they should be called HQ Downloads!

How Do I get HD Movies?

At the moment, the only way to get high definition TV or HD films is via a HD or Blu Player hooked up to a HD Ready Television and subscribe to a service such as Sky HD or purchase Blu Ray or HD DVD disks to play on your player.

Further Information

A ZDNet post goes into further detail of why HD Downloads do not currently exist.

HD VOD could add $5 billion to home entertainment pie

Report: Consumers willing to pay more for High Definition VOD

Shutting the window between DVD and VOD (video-on-demand) and raising the price on high-definition VOD movies could boost consumer home video spending by $5 billion or more annually, according to a new study from international strategy consulting firm Oliver Wyman.

In a survey of 2,000 U.S. consumers for the report ?At the Digital Crossroads: The Future of Home Video,? the firm found that consumers would be willing to pay $7 to $9 for an high-def movie on demand or a high-def rental download released in the DVD window. That?s roughly double the $4 they pay today for mostly standard-definition films that debut a month or more after their DVD release.

The higher price would not only optimize VOD revenue, but could also mean a 40% reduction in any cannibalization of DVD sales that come from offering VOD movies in the same window, researchers say.

Oliver Wyman predicts the increased VOD price paired with day-and-date offerings could entice consumers to watch three more movies a year on average, generating an additional $5 billion to $10 billion in consumer spending by 2010.

At the same time, researchers predict Blu-ray sales will increase, leading to a 6% rise in spending on packaged media. DVD retailers also could raise the price by $2 on releases that include an e-copy for transfer to a computer or portable device without consumer repercussions.
It?s worth noting that the company is more optimistic about DVD and packaged media spending than others, estimating 2007 spending of $28.7 billion. Video Business research pegged consumer spending at $22.9 billion.

?This research reveals a clear opportunity for the industry to introduce new offerings that tap unmet consumer demand, while fitting well with existing movie distribution channels,? said Mark Teitell, a partner in Oliver Wyman?s Media & Entertainment practice. ?Ultimately, the consumer will benefit the most?and be willing to pay for those benefits?from the additional choice and consumption options.?

The report comes as studios test day-and-date releases with leading cable companies Comcast and Time Warner. Last summer, Warner Bros. said that early results showed a 50% increase in VOD purchases in test markets where movies debuted simultaneously. DVD sales also saw a 10% uptick, according to Warner, but DVD rentals were off 2%.

Warner has begun releasing more films day and date nationally following those tests, with six movies in the first quarter getting a simultaneous release. Other studios have been more reluctant to shut the window.

The movie downloads business also would benefit from a closed window and higher pricing for high-definition rentals, researchers say. The study predicts that spending for Internet-downloaded rentals and sales will grow to $2.5 billion by 2009.

Consumers surveyed prefer renting a movie online to buying a digital download because they don?t believe owning a digital copy is the same as owning a DVD. However, if digital downloads worked on more devices and consumers could burn a copy to DVD and have a backup copy kept in an online storage locker, consumers said they?d be willing to pay $5 more to buy a digital download.

Currently, digital downloads are severely limited in playback by digital rights management technology. Film downloads bought through iTunes can be played on any computer with iTunes software, on iPods and the Apple TV. Film downloads bought through other Internet download companies that use Microsoft DRM can only be viewed on a PC or a Windows-compatible portable player.

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