14 DAY TRIAL // Media software company Sonic Solutions has announced plans to bring full-length movies to Internet-enabled television sets running Yahoo TV Widgets. The Roxio CinemaNow Widget is expected to be launched this fall and, with its decent catalogue of content, should prove an interesting choice with the rather few people with this type of TVs.
"Whether on the go or in the home, consumers are increasingly looking to seamlessly access and enjoy their favorite entertainment on connected devices," said Mark Ely, executive vice president of strategy, Sonic Solutions. "With Roxio CinemaNow running on Yahoo! TV Widgets, consumers will now be able to find, rent and purchase Hollywood's hit movies instantly on their connected TVs."
The company boasts an impressive selection of content with major Hollywood studio movies hitting the digital store the day they are released on DVD. The content will come from the established CinemaNow online movie store, which already has over 14,000 movies, music concerts, TV shows and other content available. The service recently announced a partnership with BlockBuster to deliver digital content under the brand while also providing the backend for other parties like Lionsgate and Warner Brothers.
The Roxio CinemaNow Widget will be part of the Yahoo TV Widgets environment, which provides users with applications specifically designed for TVs. It uses the Yahoo Widget engine, based on the Konfabulator platform for PC and MAC, which was acquired by Yahoo in 2005. Based on the existing platform Yahoo engineers have built the new widget engine customized for consumer electronics.
"By creating this revolutionary new Internet experience and combining our technology with the global distribution of major consumer electronics and content partners, we enable consumers to access the relevant information and content to enhance their television watching experience," said Patrick Barry, vice president, Connected TV, Yahoo! "Yahoo! has combined key attributes of the Internet, including openness, community, and personalization, with the power of television."