Digital movie collection service Movies Anywhere has added FandangoNow, Fandango’s on-demand video service, as its fifth digital retail partner.
Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, iTunes and Vudu were partnered with the service at launch last year.
FandangoNow is available on more than 200 million connected devices. The deal allows consumers to incorporate digital movies purchased and redeemed through FandangoNow alongside their titles from other participating digital retailers.
“FandangoNow is a top retailer in the space. We think they are doing some really cool and innovative things,” said Karin Gilford, GM, Movies Anywhere. “It marks the progress that Movies Anywhere is making to continue on our path of launching the service on more platforms, adding retailers and content over time.”
“Movies Anywhere provides a great mechanism to further advance the move from physical disc to digital home entertainment by just reducing friction, reducing barriers for consumers to try digital,” said Fandango’s Adam Rockmore. “They can try it out at different retailers and then know that their library can be used on Movies Anywhere or any retailer of choice.”
Movies Anywhere has made digital movie collection easier than have past services, such as UltraViolet, he said.
“Interoperability is what UltraViolet tried, and I think this is a better direction ultimately,” Rockmore said. “We’re pleased to be part of it.”
Cloud-based movie collection service Movies Anywhere offers consumers access to a library of nearly 7,500 digital movies.
Consumers have used the app to store more than 100 million movies to date, Gilford said. At CES in January, the service, which launched in October 2017, had tallied 80 Million movies.
“I think it’s just a testament to the high-quality nature of what we launched and obviously to the demand for this sort of functionality,” Gilford said.
Movies Anywhere includes titles from Sony Pictures Entertainment, The Walt Disney Studios (encompassing Disney, Pixar, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm), Twentieth Century Fox Film, Universal Pictures (including DreamWorks and Illumination Entertainment) and Warner Bros. Paramount and Lionsgate are not yet participating studios.
“We continue to talk with all the additional content providers in the space,” Gilford said, adding that she’s “optimistic that they’ll join.”
Likewise, Movies Anywhere is talking to other digital retailers about joining the service.
“We are in talks with other retailers,” Gilford said. “We’re not ready to announce anyone else, but you can expect additional announcements in the retail space this year.”
To celebrate the partnership, Movies Anywhere has added profile picture options. Consumers who purchase Star Wars: The Last Jedi (due on digital March 13) can choose from the Rebel Alliance Starbird, a Stormtrooper or the First Order emblem as their avatar on the service.
Rockmore said FandangoNow wanted to tie the launch of the partnership to a big title, making the digital street date of Last Jedi the perfect opportunity. FandangoNow will be promoting the Movies Anywhere partnership on its site and via communications with consumers.
