The House of Mouse has created waves within the home entertainment industry by beginnng to offer packages that include the DVD and Blu Ray versions of some of their most popular releases.
Now it appears Disney wants to take the next step forward and create digital editions of their movies that could be viewed across multiple formats.
“Dad has a Zune, Mom has an iPod, there’s a Mac and a PC at home and a Roku box; right now, those devices don’t talk to one another,” an insider tells the Hollywood Reporter. “We intend to blend those worlds.”
The new technology, code-named Keychest is on the fast-track for development by Disney. It could be demostrated in two months and be on the market by early next year. Using cloud-computing concepts that could be coupled with physical product, consumers would pay one price for rights to a movie they could play on multiple devices, even simultaneously, if desired.
Disney has been lining up studio and technology partners. Some are already involved with the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem, a competing initiative from a group that includes Sony, Fox, NBC Universal, Warner Bros., Paramount and Lionsgate.
Studios have been searching for lucrative distribution models in the Internet era, fearful that consumers are weaning themselves off of DVDs. But Disney believes Keychest technology could prolong enthusiasm for DVDs and Blu-ray Discs by allowing consumers to purchase rights to view a film in sundry ways, including the use of a traditional or high-def disc.
“Packaged goods will co-exist with digital platforms,” the studio insider said. “That’s what this is about.”