Keychest, a technology soon to be unveiled, allows the consumer to own a movie or TV show by redefining ownership as access rights, not physical possession.According to the Wall Street Journal, the Walt Disney Co. is “close to unveiling technology that it says will enable entertainment companies to adapt their business models to a new reality in which consumers increasingly rely on computers and cell phones in place of DVD players and TVs.”
Addressing two of the biggest consumer download adoption hurdles, Keychest eases the difficulty of playing a movie back on devices other than a PC or laptop, while confronting the limited storage space on those computers’ hard drives.
Consumers pay a single price for permanent access to a movie or TV show across multiple digital platforms. The devices (utilizing Internet access) transmit content to mobile gadgets like iPhones and cable services that allow on-demand viewing. It could also facilitate other services such as online movie subscriptions and more.
No other companies have been named to participate. However, Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs is Disney’s largest shareholder, and given Apple’s noticeable absence in the Sony consortium’s DECE project, it would be easily assumed that Apple would be one of the first participants.
Big Money versus Big Brother. It may be better to go read a book!
Tags: ESC Forward Looking
Report from Reuters today (http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60508P20100106?type=technologyNews)where Disney said it plans the Keychest world market roll-out very soon (at least by the end of 2010).
According to the article, “Discussions are going to step up dramatically at the Consumer Electronics Show,” said a Disney spokesman, referring to the upcoming technology conference in Las Vegas.