"Disney executives said Moviebeam — a computer drive that connects to a television and stores and shows movies like a DVD player — is a first step in a broader technology push aimed at becoming more like a retailer in new, digital business arenas. By shedding its current position as a wholesaler that packages films on videos or DVDs, Disney would reap all the rental revenue instead of sharing it with retail outlets," reports USA Today.
"Moviebeam is a set-top box like a satellite, cable, or other TV receiver. Its hard drive can store 100 movies, and an antenna receives new films via broadcast airwaves. Consumers rent the box for a monthly fee ranging from $6.99 to $8.99. They pay another $1.99 to $3.99, depending on the title, to rent each film for a period lasting 24 hours."
