BitTorrent announced today the launch of the BitTorrent Entertainment Network, featuring an extensive library of downloadable digital entertainment content from 20th Century Fox, Lions Gate, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. And MGM. Users will be able to rent movies, buy TV shows, music videos and publish their own content.
“The BitTorrent Entertainment Network is created by and for the BitTorrent Generation, which has a vast appetite for high-quality, on-demand entertainment,” said Ashwin Navin, President and Co-founder of BitTorrent. “BitTorrent.com engages our community to contribute in profound ways – whether it’s by evangelizing their favorite titles; by submitting content they’ve created; or by contributing their bandwidth to enable faster downloads and an improved entertainment experience.”
Although BitTorrent will have an inventory of 5,000 plus titles of movies, TV shows, games and music content to download currently they only feature 40 hours of high-definition programming.
Users will have access to new movie releases such as “Superman Returns”, “Mission Impossible III” and “An Inconvenient Truth”. TV programming will include “24”, “Prison Break” and “South Park”.
BitTorrent’s entertainment network can also be used as a distribution platform for independent content creators. “We’re leveling the playing field for independent artists who have been turned away by publishers who are traditionally bound by scarce distribution alternatives and limited shelf space. Our entertainment network is a true marketplace that embraces and welcomes contribution from the independents, allowing them to reach a vast user base with their high-quality creative expression,” said Navin.
New movie releases can be rented for $3.99 and catalog titles rent for $2.99. TV shows and music videos are download to own at $1.99 each.
While BitTorrent has been successful in reaching partnerships with major studios the blogosphere is not all that excited. Stacia wrote,” think it will fail too. The prices are too high (higher than iTunes or a slower download), bitTorrent isn’t user-friendly and nobody will bother seeding. I give it half a year.And IMO, BitTorrent in general is a great idea, but it’s practical uses have to be limited to small groups, not the entire Internet.”
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