Just got an email from Microsoft saying that CinemaNow is available on Media Center , I think this is US only which is a real shame as it’s the solution I am looking for Media Center. Would this be a solution for you over DVD and Blu-ray?

CinemaNow’s library of over 3,400 feature-length movies is now available through Windows Media Center. This means that you can download and watch “Sweeney Todd” or “Juno” tonight, without a cable TV subscription. All you need is Windows Media Center, which you may already have if you’ve recently purchased or upgraded your computer with Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate. These movies are available right now through a new Online Media channel in Windows Media Center that provides access to CinemaNow, an online service that offers downloadable movies, TV shows and music videos.
CinemaNow has a library of over 3,400 feature-length movies, including major Hollywood studio and independent movies, and even HD-quality movies. The library includes Pay-Per-View and Download-to-Own movies, new release and catalog favorites, with titles available day-and-date of retail DVD release.  Additionally, the library contains more than 3,000 TV episodes and over 2,900 music videos. Windows Media Center offers an easy way to browse CinemaNow’s library; in addition, it gives you the ability to watch CinemaNow content on your television via an Extender for Windows Media Center.
Windows Media Center is included in Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate, which make up the majority of the 140 million Windows Vista-based computers licensed worldwide. Windows Media Center turns your PC into a home entertainment system by providing easy access to all of your digital media, including your home movies, music, and photos. If you have TV tuner for your PC, you can also watch live and recorded TV using Windows Media Center’s electronic program guide. Extenders for Windows Media Center can stream this digital media to your television, offering a great way to watch downloaded TV and movies from CinemaNow on your television.

6 thoughts on “CinemaNow now available through Windows Media Center”
  1. I didn’t go right through the order process but from the website you seem to be able to make purchases from the UK. The selection seems reduced though (<800 movies to buy or rent) and those available seem pretty poor - Attack of the Giant Leeches anyone?

  2. CinemaNow on Media Center? Is this something new in the UK? The United States have had CinemaNow for quite sometime. They did update the plug-in, back in January, to be compatible with Vista Media Center. In my experience there are still some license issues such that streaming to a XBox360 sometimes the license’s does get validated. This is easily fixed by turn off the XBox360, rebooting the pc, and turning on the XBox360 again. CinemaNow is a cool service its just sometimes the newest releases are buy-only for a short time and then go to rent-available.

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