The ties between Apple and Disney are tightening even more thanks to their unprecedented collaboration on the new Movies Anywhere app. This ambitious project has been percolating at Disney for years and aims to make purchasing and viewing digital content easier than ever.
A direct shot at UltraViolet, the Movies Anywhere app allows users to purchase and play movies within the app or through any device with access to your iTunes library. Previously purchased films on DVD, and Blu-ray can be added to the app if they shipped with a digital redemption code. All past iTunes purchases are eligible.
Users can simply connect their iTunes account to their Disney Movies Anywhere account to begin populating their Disney digital movie locker and watch movies online and on their devices. Featuring simultaneous access on multiple devices, Disney Movies Anywhere enables consumers to stream and download Disney movies on their iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch and Apple TV (through iCloud or using AirPlay).
Disney believes integrating with iTunes is crucial to meeting the demands of today’s consumers:
“Disney Movies Anywhere offers an exceptional consumer experience built around some of the most beloved and popular entertainment brands in the world,” said Alan Bergman, President, The Walt Disney Studios. “This unique technology underscores Disney’s commitment to meeting our consumers where they are with the content they want, and we’re thrilled to debut with iTunes, the #1 digital media retailer in the world.”
Another added benefit is that all iTunes purchases from this point forward will include Disney Movie Rewards points.
To help get your movie collection started, Disney is providing a copy of Pixar’s ‘The Incredibles’ free of charge when you sign up and connect your iTunes account to the app. Be sure to take advantage of this opportunity soon as Disney warns that it’s only available for a limited time.
As of right now Movies Anywhere is exclusive to iTunes and iOS, but it’s possible that it could extend to other platforms in the future. Only available to residents of the United States who are 13 or older.
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Remember that people outside the US read this site! It’s US only.
Unless edited without noting it, it does state so at the bottom of the article.
Not available in the UK
And not one site reporting on this today bothered to even figure out (let alone make it part of the story) that this is a “USA only” thing, even though at least half of the readership of all the same sites is actually non-American.
And Americans wonder why the rest of the world hates them?
Right, so two American media companies decide to make their product US only and as such, the rest of the world hates ALL of us. Nice.
Oh shut the hell up. We’re talking about Disney movies, not wars.
There’s a lot of stuff Europe has/gets before the U.S. (music, tech, true high speed internet, etc.) but I don’t hate on Europe because of it. Attitudes like yours are why some Americans hate Europeans.
My point was that this isn’t an “American” site, but the Internet and at least half the people visiting it aren’t Americans. The idea is that the site should actually think about it’s audience and who it’s insulting or not insulting when making editorial decisions like this.
People hate Americans because of that tendency to smugness and the way they act superior to everyone else without even thinking about it. This is more of that.
I’m just saying that a professional journalist would never make this kind of mistake, and I know whenever they do something wrong they hide behind “hey it’s just a blog,” but at other times they want to make out like they are all professional and stuff.
It’s this ignorant attitude to their viewers that engenders the bad feelings.
Speak for yourself! I am European and I love Americans. Not happy about some US exclusive stuff but no way I will take that on American people.
Mr. Grey,
If you hate Americans because of some perceived slight that Disney has committed by rolling out a new video service that is currently only available in the US, then you likely have misplaced aggressions. As I read the comments here, I don’t see a single post bashing anyone except yours.
In my case, I wish all American financial institutions would imbed smart chips in every credit card for security (such cards are very limited from American banks), but I certainly don’t have any ill will toward Europeans because they have more access to them than we Americans do.
Perhaps you should contact Disney and inquire if they plan to expand this service, meanwhile your aggression, over an issue like this, is way off base.
I’m hoping this will also soon be including Star Wars, because YES.
Agreed! Currently none of the Lucasfilm movies are eligible for ‘Movies Anywhere’
I’d rather not since e all know if it is added then people will bash it since it’ll be the specialized edition instead of the original that everyone who is a huge fan of the series would rather see/buy -_-
“Previously purchased films on DVD, and Blu-ray will also be eligible.”
ANyone know how?
Not all past DVD/Blu-ray purchases are eligible. You can only add the movie to the app if Disney shipped a digital redemption code in its original packaging. Hope this helps.
It does, because I didn’t see this question and asked the same one below. So most likely one would already have redeemed this code and it would already be in your iTunes library making this not that big of a deal, right?
Well previously the code would just allow you to download the movie as a digital file, but now redeeming it adds it to your ‘Movies Anywhere’ app which you can then watch from any device without access to the original digital file. It simplifies the process for users thanks to the cloud-aspect of the app.
With iCloud I could already stream any iTunes movie/tv show that I have attached to my account, whether via digital copy or purchase, on any device that has iTunes (iOS, Apple TV, Windows PC). I guess I’m not really seeing the value-add here. Why wouldn’t I just keep buying stuff through iTunes? What benefits does the ‘movie anywhere’ app give other than maybe some extra features?
which this kinda sucks because I have some of disney’s dvds from the past 14 years and would be nice to digitize them without having to repay for what I already have physically(oh well maybe disney will add itunes bundles and add it to this? )
I’m curious what “Previously purchased films on DVD, and Blu-ray will also be eligible.” means. Does that mean if I’ve previously purchased a Disney DVD or Blu-ray I’ll get access to stream it?
Please refer to your other comment for my answer. Thanks!
I just signed up and found the Disney movies I recently purchased both via iTunes and Blu Ray w/digital copy or available on my iPhone. I’m away from my laptop with my main iTunes account on it to see if it’s the same. There were even a couple of movies (other than The Incredibles) that I own I didn’t think I had a digital code entered that are available.
Now I can buy a physical copy of a movie for my daughter, enter the code in the Disney Movie Rewards site and get AUTOMATIC access to it via iTunes without ripping the disc.
Very cool, IMO! Hopefully, other studios will see the light and join the club.
Just to clarify on your answer above, you’re right that most people would have already redeemed the code (probably in iTunes) and would have the movie on their account already. In my case (WALL-E DVD) I redeemed the code years ago and had the SD version in iTunes Match, but once I connected the app to my account it synced, matched that movie, and “upgraded” it to HD.
I noticed that as well – all my movies that I had SD versions only of are now available as HD via iCloud. That alone was a huge plus for me.
The SD copies you are referring to are from iTunes, correct? If so, that is a GREAT feature. What’s your favorite Disney movie in your collection?
UltraViolet is a bag of hurt!
Agreed. This SEEMS to be a much easier process for consumers. iTunes integration is key, IMO.
Yeah, I agree. Ultraviolet is so painful. It’s making me sad that some publishers are only giving UV codes these days.
I find that the flixster app has good UV integration
@Ryan yeah but it’s a pain having to go between the itunes and flixter(or whatever UV app you use) for the library. It’s kinda nice to have it at least somewhat integrated like this…(since the free movie they give out with DMA does pop up in your library if you have the right store preferences enabled)
What am I missing? Why is this isolated from iTunes itself? Why not just allow iTunes to connect to the digital code authorization engine for Disney when it’s a Disney Digital Copy movie? Wouldn’t that be a better integration for the Apple customer?
I downloaded the app and synced it. the so called free movie isn’t free its asking me to pay for it when i hit the play button. What a damn scam!!!!
So basically only if we purchased a DVD movie after digital downloads became a thing we can use this. That sucks, since I have several movies that aren’t eligible.
I bought several movies with UV and I just gave the codes to someone else because ITunes blows UV out of the water
Itunes is available on none of my devices…..UV is available on all of my devices, so UV blows itunes out of the water for me.
The irony is that the service is offered to Americans only at launch but Europeans offer a bigger market and with broadband services that are generally much faster ie, better equipped to access large download or streaming services. I live in West Norfolk, a rural town, with 80Mbps connection speed. The US may be offered the service first but the likelihood is that more Europeans will be actively using the service once its extended beyond the US.
Boo. I wish they would just join ultraviolet already and be done with it, I only care because of the Marvel movies and Star Wars.