| Certainly enjoying movies at a theater is a unique | | | | select from over 75,000 titles. |
| experience. From the towering screens to the Dolby | | | | Movie download services and renting at the local |
| Digital DTS sound systems, the wow factor of a | | | | video store are probably equivalent in pricing. |
| theater can't be matched. However, due to | | | | Movielink rental pricing for instance starts at $1.99 and |
| convenience and affordability, enjoying movies at | | | | goes upward to $4.99 while many video stores have |
| home whether on a PC or a big screen plasma | | | | rentals from $2 to $5. The selection of movies is |
| display is the more typical scenario for the majority | | | | currently somewhat greater at local video stores; |
| of movie fans. The options for obtaining and viewing | | | | perhaps 10,000 to 15,000 titles to choose from |
| movies at home have certainly expanded in the past | | | | versus fewer than 10,000 with most legal movie |
| decade with the introduction of online movie rental | | | | download services. However, the future may hold a |
| and movie download services in addition to the more | | | | different picture as online movie download services |
| traditional offerings provided by local video stores as | | | | are providing larger libraries over time as they acquire |
| well as live and pay-per-view television. | | | | more films. |
| For film fans on a budget, enjoying more movie | | | | A bit more expensive are the pay-per-view movies |
| viewing per dollar justifies a quick look at some of | | | | made available by most cable and satellite TV |
| the options. | | | | providers. With costs averaging around $3.99 to |
| Hands down, enjoying movies on live television, | | | | $4.99 their pricing is reasonable but can become |
| whether cable, broadcast, or satellite TV, is the most | | | | significantly more costly than other services if more |
| economical option. The selection viewers have to | | | | than one or two movies are viewed over the course |
| choose from is significantly limited by the | | | | of a month. In addition, the pay-per-view offerings |
| programming schedule but there is no cost beyond | | | | are often restricted to one or two dozen movies at |
| the typical monthly fee for any premium packages. | | | | any given time based on the programming schedule |
| Another cost free method of enjoying movies is as | | | | for a given month. |
| simple as a visit to the local library. Public libraries loan | | | | Luckily whether considering movie downloads, online |
| out not only books and CDs but movies on VHS and | | | | movie rental services, use of the local video store, or |
| DVD as well. Although the selection is somewhat | | | | pay-per-view, movie fans are able to enjoy the |
| limited, the price is right. | | | | services risk free. Movie download services, video |
| Coming in second, online movie rental has the | | | | stores, and pay-per-view are charged on a per movie |
| potential to provide more movie entertainment for | | | | basis with no ongoing commitment to purchase more |
| the dollar than other paid services. As an example, | | | | movies. Likewise, although online movie rental |
| Netflix offers numerous plans but their most popular | | | | programs charge a monthly fee, services such as |
| plan allows users to have up to 3 movies out at a | | | | Netflix require no commitment to continue the |
| given time for $17.99 per month. If a typical user | | | | program and no cancellation fees to discontinue. |
| views only 6 movies in a given month this would | | | | From live television and pay-per-view to movie |
| average out to $2.99 per movie. The price per movie | | | | downloads, online movie rental, and video stores, |
| could potentially be less for those who view more | | | | movie lovers should be able to discover a movie |
| movies throughout the month; for instance the price | | | | service that offers the films they love at a price |
| per movie would drop to $1.99 if 9 movies were | | | | they can afford. Which option best meets their |
| watched throughout the month. Making the value of | | | | budget will depend on the number of films they tend |
| online movie rental services even greater is the huge | | | | to view per month and how wide of a selection they |
| selection offered; in the case of Netflix, users can | | | | need to find the entertainment they want. |