Go Ape! Kong is First Download-to-own Movie

Universal Pictures UK has announced the launch of the nation’s first proper movie download service. First up is King Kong, ready to download to your PC next month. Also arriving on the 10th of April is a raft of 34 titles, including Keira Knightley's version of Pride and Prejudice and game-to-movie adaptation, Doom. Unlike previous movie UK downloads like Sky By Broadband and AOL’s Film Downloads, Universal lets you own the films permanently, like buying iTunes.

There is a catch. You can’t buy the download without the DVD. £20 will net you the DVD of, say, King Kong, plus two Windows Media Videos - a hi-res version for your desktop and a low-res job for a portable player.

Downloads will take between two to four hours on a 1 meg broadband connection, but should be quicker on faster connections. Universal can then expand the download library by dipping into its 6,500 strong back-catalogue charging £20 for new movies and £10 for oldies

If all goes to plan, Universal will expand its library to encompass its 6,500-strong back catagloue, charging £20 for new movies and £10 for oldies.

The move will hit Apple, which still hasn’t released any TV shows or movies on its UK iTunes Music Store. Owners of Windows Media video jukeboxes will feel like they have backed the winner, more especially because the BBC plan to deliver its shows as WMV this autumn.

To get to grips with King Kong go to www.lovefilm.com and sign up on the 10th.