Starting yesterday, people who buy the Superman Returns DVD at Wal-mart have an option of paying an extra $1.97 for the digital version download formatted for portable devices, $2.97 for computer-compatible version or $3.97 for a version that works on both. A 16 character redemption code is provided that looks similar to the code you enter to register Windows software and can be used to download the video from a beta walmart.com site.

Enter the cliche dragon.

As for compatibility, there is some fine print. The Wal-Mart downloads that are compatible with portable devices will be in Windows Media Player format, which means that they’ll play on all devices that accept that format–including Microsoft’s new Zune–but not Apple’s iPods. And the PC-compatible downloads will require the Windows XP operating system and Windows Media Player 10. Mac and Linux users, at least for now, need not apply.

So essentially we drop an extra four bones and still don’t get the ability to watch the video on our iPod 5g or PSP? Yay, we can watch it on our new Zune and our Windows PCs but not on the Linux workstation I just activated on our network. Weak.

Without an additional layer — say $4.97 for a completely DRM-free version that can be used on any platform — this isn’t anything groundbreaking.

This morning I read that in February 2007 Paramount Pictures, Liongate, 20th Century Fox, TV Shows from MTV and others will be offering downloads via BitTorrent. Will these files be DRM-encumbered too? I’m sure they will be but hopefully they’ll offer versions for every platform.

If they must load in a DRM-laced version, why not package in with the DVD a version that can be copied and played on Windows, Mac, Linux and portable devices? Making people wait for the download who just paid for it seems silly to me. Most DVD movies are overpriced at $15-25 anyway. Most TV Seasons are fairly priced but single movies I think should be priced at $10 and digital version with lower quality for $5-7. People would buy more movies at those prices, but Hollywood doesn’t think quantity terms. And while they are at it, for the people who pay to see the movie and buy the overprices popcorn in the theater, they should be given the DVD for free or for some token $1-2.

The needle is moving slightly, I guess. Maybe. Perhaps beyond testing a couple movies here and there, I doubt we’ll be paying an extra _.97 for any of the options any time soon, you?

Did this post make you go hmm?

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