New movies from major film studios and independents will now be available for purchase through the Apple [1] iTunes store on the same day as their DVD release. New releases will be available from 20th Century Fox, The Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Lionsgate, Image Entertainment and First Look Studios.

New releases will be priced at $14.99 with “most” catalog titles at $9.99. The first new iTunes releases in parallel with their DVD counterparts include “American Gangster” and “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.” According to Apple, the iTunes store currently has a catalog of over 600 TV shows and over 1,500 films including 200 in “stunning” HD video.

Analysts see Apple’s move pressuring Amazon.com and distributors on their newbie online efforts and in fresh DVD sales. There’s also speculation the major movie studios will announce similar direct to DVD & online deals with other Internet video distribution outlets.

For more:
- A thoughtful UK Times Online piece on Apple’s iTunes immediate movies [2]
- PC World blogger grumbles about buying movies online [3].

Related articles:
NBC exits iTunes, enters Hulu [4]
Apple seeks control of video [5] home