Apple Wants to Boost iTunes with Early Access to Hollywood Blockbusters

Apple wants earlier access to movies for iTunes, sources say, but with Hollywood it’s never a simple matter.

According to people with knowledge of the matter cited in Bloomberg, Apple is seeking to bolster its iTunes platform by securing earlier access to movies, so consumers could stream the content sooner after a film is released in theaters.

Apple wants to diversify the value of iTunes, sources say. Right now the platform sells music and offers music streaming, but few people use it for television and movie content.

And Hollywood execs have several potential platforms from which to choose should they decide to enable earlier digital releases. One concern with iTunes—and other options—is that of duplication. Content is encrypted, but it’s difficult to stop users from video recording their computer screens to release digital copies of new movies on the black market.

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