SBC, EchoStar Plot Online Movie Service

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This is the fifth big U.S. online movie service–Movielink, Cinemanow, Starz, Moviebeam–being launched, or at least being planned. SBC and EchoStar, which already have a successful partnership selling packages of satellite TV and phone services, are jointly developing a set-top box for movies and other digital media services.

The box, scheduled to be available in the middle of 2005, will enable broadband subscribers to download movies and watch them on their TVs, as well as watch satellite TV. Customers also will be able to use the box to view personal photos on their TVs and download music from the Internet. The box also will allow customers to record shows on a hard drive, a la DVR.

The venture may offer the movies through an already existing venture, like Movielink (Movielink is on sale, an open secret…will these companies buy it out outright?)

(On another point: How will this play into the Yahoo-SBC deal?)

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