Sonic Solutions Readies 3D Video Download Stores

Sonic Solutions is developing custom RoxioNow-based 3D video download stores for customers, and the first are due before midyear, Mark Ely, executive vice president of strategy, told us. Sonic, which agreed to sell the company to Roxio in December, has “dozens” of 3D titles in its library, he said. Sonic is working to bring more 3D movies online as they're released in theaters, Ely said. The company also is working to make 3D a search category for the platform, he said.

"There is not a whole ton of 3D content from theatrical yet, but as those become available, we're putting them into our supply chain,” Ely said. “It’s up to the studios to license content."

The move to bring 3D content to Roxio comes a year later than Sonic originally planned and as Wal-Mart’s Vudu readies a similar service. Vudu has said it will price 3D fare at $6.99. RoxioNow hasn’t set its charges, but it’s “definitely premium priced content,” Ely said. HD is the baseline for 3D, but the faster bit rate required “predicates a premium,” he said. Sonic has worked with Sensio and RealD on 3D programming.

As it readies 3D, Sonic is seeking to expand use of RoxioNow platform. Sears and Kmart are expected to launch a video download service in Q1, and RoxioNow is providing the platform for Dell Stage and Intel Insider services. It also is in field trials with set-top box supplier Entone in Mexico and is providing programming to Sezmi.

RoxioNow also is bringing DivX-based content onto its platform, work that may “accelerate” as a result of Sonic’s proposed sale to Rovi, Ely said. Sonic bought DivX last year for $320 million. RoxioNow will be an OEM service for customers, DivX the consumer brand, he said. “The way RoxioNow and DivX started to come together will get accelerated as we move forward, because there is a value proposition for consumers and DivX brand."

DivX-based programming is available through Warner Bros. in France, Filmfresh.com in the U.S., FilmOn in the U.K. and Play4Film in Italy, but whether it remains a separate service hasn’t been decided, Ely said. “Premium content in the DivX form is part of the eco-system, but over time what happens to the separate DivX content service and how that does or doesn’t integrate with Roxio still has to be determined,” he said.

Also likely to be retained under Rovi ownership will be Sonic’s Qflix DVD download-to-burn service that has migrated from Dell and Pioneer drives to replicators like Allied Vaughn and Amazon’s CreateSpace. Qflix has “thousands” of titles available, Ely said. Teac recently signed on to provide dual-layer DVDs, he said. “It fits around a bunch of IP Rovi has around copy protection,” said Ely, adding that Sonic started working with Rovi when it was known as Macrovision. “It’s a small business, but studios like the idea that they can still distribute DVDs” as shelf space at retail shrinks, he said.

DivX also is readying formal release of HiQ technology to improve the quality and performance of Web video playback by switching to the DivX Plus Web player from Adobe flash on YouTube, Vimeo and DailyMotion. The sites have a DivX HiQ tab. DivX also is expanding deployment of DivX Channel service across several LG Electronics Blu-ray players this year from a single model in 2010.