Fox, Lionsgate launch Blu-ray features for iPhones

MOBILE: For Night at the Museum, users can access additional info, trivia

By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 11/6/2009

NOV. 6 | MOBILE: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment and Lionsgate are among studios launching their first iPhone-enabled features, on upcoming releases Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian and Gamer, respectively.

“We are competing whether we like it or not with other devices in the living room,” said Miguel Casillas, senior VP of DVD/Blu-ray production at Lionsgate. “So why not marry the two [Blu-ray and iPhones]. People can enjoy the content in different ways. Rather than compete with people surfing the Internet or texting, you can bring your mobile device to the party.”

With Night at the Museum and many upcoming Fox new releases, people will be able to use either their iPhone or computer as a second screen to enjoy additional info and trivia. In contrast to most studios, Fox is offering this capability with both Blu-ray and DVD versions of participating titles.

The feature, dubbed FoxPop, first needs to be downloaded onto the user’s phone or computer. Once people start running the Blu-ray or DVD version of the film in either format player, FoxPop will activate and begin delivering extra tidbits about characters and quizzes onto the phone/computer screen. People also can connect to Twitter or Facebook mode within FoxPop and update their statuses in real time.

Fox plans to integrate FoxPop into many of its new DVD/Blu-ray releases going forward, including December titles (500) Days of Summer and Jennifer’s Body.

With (500) Days of Summer, FoxPop will allow users to purchase songs from the movie through iTunes. Jennifer’s Body is expected to feature pop-up video of star Megan Fox.

“FoxPop furthers our commitment to providing consumers with the most exceptional home entertainment experience possible,” said Mary Daily, executive VP of North America marketing at Fox. “By providing interesting movie-related information and the ability to engage with fellow Night at the Museum: Battle of Smithsonian audiences, the application creates a powerful new connection between the movie and its viewer.”

Lionsgate is still finalizing what Blu-ray Gamer content people will be able to access via iPhone, through BluFocus’ BDTouch technology.

Gamer also will include the application MetaMenu, which will turn iPhones into remote controls to send screen shots of the film back and forth with friends and to enable people to interact with Facebook and Twitter accounts.

BDTouch also will be a part of upcoming Anchor Bay Entertainment Blu-ray titles, including UFC: The Ultimate 100 Greatest Fights (out Dec. 8) and the first season of Highlander (date undetermined).

Another similar technology, Mobile Blu, will be added to CBS/Paramount Home Entertainment’s third-season Blu-ray release of Star Trek, following its incorporation in earlier season sets.