Movielink

Movielink was a web-based video on demand (VOD) and electronic sell-through (EST) service offering movies, TV shows and other videos for rental or purchase. First available on November 11, 2002, Movielink drew its content offerings from the libraries of Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Universal Studios, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Buena Vista Pictures (including Miramax), Twentieth Century Fox, Koch Entertainment and others on a non-exclusive basis. While it was only available to users in the United States, it was the first company in the world to offer legally downloadable movies from major studios.

In general, movies obtained through Movielink could only be viewed on the computer or a TV connected to the computer that the movie was purchased from. However, consumer electronics devices such as the Xbox 360 game console also allowed users to more easily view these digital media on a traditional TV screen. Also, Movielink had deals with certain set top box companies to offer its movies downloaded directly to people's TV's (including AT&T's Homezone product). Experimentation with other business models was underway, including a feature which allowed users to purchase, download, and burn a DVD of a selected film.

Movielink used digital rights management software from Microsoft and RealNetworks to protect their content. Consequently, compatibility was limited to Intel-based computers running Microsoft Windows 2000, XP,or Vista and Windows Media Player version 9 or later.

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