Streaming services fill Dvd-store gap

On-demand movie service Stuff Pix may have found a gap in the increasingly crowded TV entertainment market, says the head of the country’s copyright licensing agency, Paula Browning.

However, it will face competition next month from Spark, when its internet television service Lightbox also branches out into renting movies on demand.

Existing competitors include international services that offer videos on demand, such as Google Play and itunes, and the few remaining DVD stores.

Stuff Pix is a partnership between Stuff Fibre and Muvinow Australia. Stuff Fibre is partly owned by Stuff Ltd, publisher of the Manawatu Standard.

Stuff Pix has deals with several major film studios, which will allow it to offer films about two to three months after they show in cinemas – at the time they might normally be released on DVD.

Newer release movies cost $6.95 to watch in standard definition and $7.95 in HD. Stuff Pix also has a back catalogue of older movies costing from $1.

Google Play charges $6.99 for equivalent newer releases in SD and $7.99 in HD.

Spark has yet to list what movies will be available on Lightbox, and spokeswoman Ellie Cross said on Tuesday it could not yet disclose its pricing.

Spark boss Simon Moutter said it estimated more than a million Kiwis were now streaming Netflix or Lightbox ‘‘on a near daily basis’’.

But Browning believed there was a gap in the market for movie services that was not currently being met by the likes of Netflix, Ligthtbox’s current service and Sky’s Neon.

New Zealand’s ageing population meant the number of people who would find it easier to watch movies at home, rather than at the movies, would grow, she said. ‘‘The more that is available online the better.’’

The big challenge that was emerging was helping people find out what content was available, she said.