2006年VOA标准英语-Online Movie Sales Take Off for Disney Company

y Mil Arcega
Washington, DC
21 September 2006
 
watch OnLine Films report 

 
Disney movie clip
  
The Walt Disney Company says it has sold 125,000 digital copies of its movies -- less than one week after making the films available for download through Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes store.  At prices ranging from $9.99 to $14.99, the new service has already generated more than $1 million for the company, which is best known for its animated¹ feature films.  

 
Apple's iPod
Anyone with a fast Internet connection can now watch his or her favorite Disney film on a portable video device such as Apple's iPod.   Industry analyst² Aram Sinnreich says Disney's success in the first week of its online venture shows there's a large market for online distribution.

"The reality is that consumers have already gotten hip³ to online video, downloading videos and TV shows like gangbusters [in a big way].  They are not going to stop anytime soon."

So far, Hollywood has resisted the idea of distributing movies over the Internet -- arguing that making near-DVD quality films available online was an invitation to piracy⁴.  But Disney, which currently has 75 titles available on the iTunes website, says online sales have not hurt the sale of its DVD's.

 
Bob Iger
Company president, Bob Iger says,  "Any time you give people more ways to buy something and more ways to actually consume or watch something, you're going to increase consumption, so I believe the pie is going to get bigger."

Iger projects revenues of up to $50 million in its first year and says plans are in the works to distribute more films on the company's website.  Analysts⁵ say Hollywood studios and retailers⁷ are watching closely. Online retailer⁶ Amazon.com has unveiled its own digital movie service, which will offer new and older films along with TV shows.

"I think the promising⁸ signs from iTunes as well as other online video retailers as well as the tremendous uptick in consumer interest in online video has convinced them they finally have to take the plunge⁹ (jump in)," says Sinneich.

But some studios are taking a more cautious approach to digital distribution to appease¹⁰ retailers such as Wal-Mart.  The global retailer is responsible for about 40 percent of the DVD's sold in the United States. 

1 animated   

adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的

参考例句：

• His observations gave rise to an animated and lively discussion.他的言论引起了一场气氛热烈而活跃的讨论。
• We had an animated discussion over current events last evening.昨天晚上我们热烈地讨论时事。

2 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

3 hip   

n.臀部，髋；屋脊

参考例句：

• The thigh bone is connected to the hip bone.股骨连着髋骨。
• The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line.新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。

4 piracy   

n.海盗行为，剽窃，著作权侵害

参考例句：

• The government has already adopted effective measures against piracy.政府已采取有效措施惩治盗版行为。
• They made the place a notorious centre of piracy.他们把这地方变成了臭名昭著的海盗中心。

5 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

6 retailer   

n.零售商(人)

参考例句：

• What are the retailer requirements?零售商会有哪些要求呢？
• The retailer has assembled a team in Shanghai to examine the question.这家零售商在上海组建了一支团队研究这个问题。

7 retailers   

零售商，零售店( retailer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• High street retailers reported a marked increase in sales before Christmas. 商业街的零售商报告说圣诞节前销售量显著提高。
• Retailers have a statutory duty to provide goods suitable for their purpose. 零售商有为他们提供符合要求的货品的法定义务。

8 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

9 plunge   

v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲

参考例句：

• Test pool's water temperature before you plunge in.在你跳入之前你应该测试水温。
• That would plunge them in the broil of the two countries.那将会使他们陷入这两国的争斗之中。

10 appease   

v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足

参考例句：

• He tried to appease the crying child by giving him candy.他试图给那个啼哭的孩子糖果使他不哭。
• The government tried to appease discontented workers.政府试图安抚不满的工人们。