NewsDude
09-16-2008, 06:20 PM
Internet Movie Database, the company behind the popular imdb.com site, wants to give visitors a free viewing of every movie and TV show on the Internet and filmmakers a chance to show the world their films.
The Amazon.com subsidiary, which was started by an international group of movie fans, said Monday that users can watch 6,000 feature films such as Fever Pitch and Fiddler on the Roof, TV episodes such as Big Brother and CSI, and old classics such as Star Trek and Charlie's Angels on its Web site.
Users can access a featured list, but not all the available films and shows are listed. Instead, users need to type in the shows they want to view one at a time.
Along with full-length movies and shows, Imdb catalogs every detail about a movie, from who is featured to who created it. The company also posts information on filming locations, reviews and fan sites.
"We're excited to offer our users a simple online experience to watch full-length movies and TV episodes for free," said Col Needham, company founder and managing director, who claims he has watched more than 7,000 movies.
Reaching the Masses
Imdb is also allowing filmmakers and rights owners worldwide to tap into imdb.com's 57 million unique monthly visitors and show their films.
In January Imdb began to expand its focus on independent films when it acquired Los Angeles-based Without A Box Inc., a media company focused on advancing independent films and connecting artists with audiences. The withoutabox.com site allows artists to submit films to festivals and promotes the films directly to fans while giving festival organizers tools to manage and promote the festivals online.
CBS, Hulu, Sony Pictures Television, and more than 500 independent filmmakers will provide video content on a rotating basis and Imdb will stream some of...
More... (http://www.toptechnews.com/story.xhtml?story_id=61884)
The Amazon.com subsidiary, which was started by an international group of movie fans, said Monday that users can watch 6,000 feature films such as Fever Pitch and Fiddler on the Roof, TV episodes such as Big Brother and CSI, and old classics such as Star Trek and Charlie's Angels on its Web site.
Users can access a featured list, but not all the available films and shows are listed. Instead, users need to type in the shows they want to view one at a time.
Along with full-length movies and shows, Imdb catalogs every detail about a movie, from who is featured to who created it. The company also posts information on filming locations, reviews and fan sites.
"We're excited to offer our users a simple online experience to watch full-length movies and TV episodes for free," said Col Needham, company founder and managing director, who claims he has watched more than 7,000 movies.
Reaching the Masses
Imdb is also allowing filmmakers and rights owners worldwide to tap into imdb.com's 57 million unique monthly visitors and show their films.
In January Imdb began to expand its focus on independent films when it acquired Los Angeles-based Without A Box Inc., a media company focused on advancing independent films and connecting artists with audiences. The withoutabox.com site allows artists to submit films to festivals and promotes the films directly to fans while giving festival organizers tools to manage and promote the festivals online.
CBS, Hulu, Sony Pictures Television, and more than 500 independent filmmakers will provide video content on a rotating basis and Imdb will stream some of...
More... (http://www.toptechnews.com/story.xhtml?story_id=61884)