Download films/tv shows legitimately in the UK without iTunes?

September 8, 2009 9:11 AM

How can I LEGALLY pay for or rent and download movies in the UK without using iTunes?

Not an iTunes hater, but want something that will let me stream from my laptop to my TV via my Xbox 360. Also I don't mind paying. I need this to satiate my occasional (usually drunken) desire to watch a film late at night once the shops are closed.

And I am in the UK!!!

posted by plechazunga to computers & internet (11 comments total)

Lovefilm.com has a selection of films you can watch online.
posted by TheophileEscargot at 9:16 AM on September 8

Amazon video on demand?
posted by special-k at 9:17 AM on September 8

Amazon VoD is not available in the UK, Lovefilm looks good but I want something I can download?
posted by plechazunga at 9:20 AM on September 8

Just movies, what about TV programmes? Because if It's TV programmes you want then their are plenty of places, BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, 4OD, Demand 5 and MSN UK Video Player to name but a few.

Sometimes they have films on the catchup services but I don't know of anywhere else to download/stream films in the UK apart from iTunes.

I do sometimes buy a day pass on HotSpotVPN (a VPN provider in the USA) which let's me watch American catchup services (like Hulu) but it's a bit of a work around and isn't technically legal.
posted by nam3d at 9:21 AM on September 8

I suspect anything you get rentalwise is going to have DRM that would stop the Xbox being able to play it. It might be doable via Windows Media Connect, and streaming it to the console from Windows Media Player, but the only talk I've found of this did involve the subtitles 'Streming Hiccups' so... Yea.
posted by opsin at 9:28 AM on September 8

Oh, and of course I think it's the case that to use Media Connect you'd need a Media Centre version of Windows running.
posted by opsin at 9:30 AM on September 8

Try this.
posted by fire&wings at 9:32 AM on September 8 [1 favorite]

Have you tried renting movies over Xbox Live. It's not a huge selection in the UK, but I was suprised with what is up there and it sounds like it might be a good way to scratch the occaisional itch.
posted by Mattat at 10:29 AM on September 8

There are a few hundred movies available directly on your xbox 360, if you don't necessarily have to go through your laptop. Don't know how the video market works in the UK, in Sweden we don't have any movies at all there...
posted by rpn at 10:37 AM on September 8

The Auteurs does paid streaming, plus monthly free offerings, for independent, classic and world cinema. Quality's great, and the selection is good if it's in line with your late-night wants.
posted by carbide at 11:43 AM on September 8

Bollocks, I didn't see that fire&wings's link pointed to The Auteurs. Sorry.
posted by carbide at 11:44 AM on September 8