Previewed at WWDC, launching in the fall.
Apple Extends iTunes Movie Rental Window to 48 Hours in United States
Alongside the launch of the new Apple TV 4K, which is in the hands of customers today, Apple has quietly updated its iTunes rental policy to extend the amount of time rentals can be watched.
In a support document that was updated today, Apple says customers have 30 days to start watching a movie after it's been rented. Once a movie is started, there's an additional 48 hours to finish the movie and/or rewatch it.
Apple's new 48 hour rental policy will be a welcome change for customers who often rent content from iTunes. Prior to today, customers only had 24 hours after starting a movie to finish it in the U.S., but the 48 hour limit has long been available in other countries.
Rented movies can be watched across multiple devices and downloaded on a single device, so customers can rent a movie, download it, and then watch it over the course of the next 48 hours. Apple says that even with downloaded movies watched offline, the 48 hour timer remains.
With the introduction of the 4K Apple TV, Apple has made many 4K movies available to rent or purchase at the same price as High Definition content. 4K content can't be downloaded, however, and is only available for streaming.
In a support document that was updated today, Apple says customers have 30 days to start watching a movie after it's been rented. Once a movie is started, there's an additional 48 hours to finish the movie and/or rewatch it.
Apple's new 48 hour rental policy will be a welcome change for customers who often rent content from iTunes. Prior to today, customers only had 24 hours after starting a movie to finish it in the U.S., but the 48 hour limit has long been available in other countries.
Rented movies can be watched across multiple devices and downloaded on a single device, so customers can rent a movie, download it, and then watch it over the course of the next 48 hours. Apple says that even with downloaded movies watched offline, the 48 hour timer remains.
With the introduction of the 4K Apple TV, Apple has made many 4K movies available to rent or purchase at the same price as High Definition content. 4K content can't be downloaded, however, and is only available for streaming.
Tag: iTunes
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Neutral)
[ 79 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
(View all)
12 months ago
This is great. My wife falls asleep half way through any movie we try to watch. I stopped renting years ago because I always ended up renting it twice. Maybe I can rethink my approach now
12 months ago
Nice, I always thought 24 hours was just too short, even 36 hours would have been a huge improvement as it allows you to watch the movie during the time you like to watch movies except in two sittings.
12 months ago
I always wondered why 24 hours started. Probably due to content negotiations. I figure it should have been the same basic rule as the old video rental places. 48 hours is certainly nice but I think 72 hours would be ideal. That would cover a weekend scenario nicely.
12 months ago
YES!!!!!! With small kids, my wife and I could never start a movie for us early enough to not be up ridiculously late. See ya, Redbox!
12 months ago
This is a welcome change, but until the 4K download restriction is resolved (OR they become much more transparent about that policy), I'm still mad at them :mad:
12 months ago
That's good news. It takes me back to the days of rushing back to Blockbuster Video with their next day returns policy for recent releases - and they actually needed the cassettes in store physically to make money on them.
12 months ago
Bravo, Apple!
Now if only Hollywood would make movies worth watching. If not for the quality productions happening in television and streaming services, there’d be nothing remarkable. A crap movie in 4K is still a crap movie.
Now if only Hollywood would make movies worth watching. If not for the quality productions happening in television and streaming services, there’d be nothing remarkable. A crap movie in 4K is still a crap movie.
12 months ago
Good on you Apple. Looks like Eddy Cue stepped his negotiating game up this year. Automatic free 4k upgrades, same price for 4k and double rent durations.
12 months ago
Anyone know when Apple let you move rentals across devices? That isn’t new too, is it? I distinctly remember buying a rental for a trip on my Mac only to discover it wouldn’t transfer to my iPhone (Apple was very generous with the credit, though).
They did this a few months ago. Just make sure everything is up-to-date. I do this all the time because I prefer to browse and select on my Mac, and then watch on an Apple TV or if traveling, an iPad.
[ Read All Comments ]
Logitech today announced the launch of the MX Vertical, the company's most advanced ergonomic mouse to date.
The MX Vertical, which was designed in collaboration with ergonomic experts,...
Dutch media is reporting that an Apple Store at Leidseplein in Amsterdam was briefly evacuated today, likely after an iPad battery overheated.
Image Credit: AS Media
At 2:20 p.m. local time on...
Facebook is contesting a demand from the U.S. government that it break the encryption of its popular Messenger app so that law enforcement can listen in to a suspect's conversations as part of an...
Child actress Brooklynn Prince has been cast in the lead role of Apple's upcoming drama series that's based on the life of young journalist Hilde Lysiak, reports Deadline.
Eight-year-old...
Netflix is testing a new feature that adds video promos in between episodes of TV shows, Netflix confirmed to TechCrunch this afternoon.
The promos Netflix is showing to some users include...
Logitech often works with Apple to introduce new accessories for Apple devices, and in early August, Logitech announced its latest product designed in collaboration with Apple, the new POWERED...
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Choetech to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a 7.5W Wireless Car Charging Mount that can be used to charge an iPhone X, iPhone 8, or...
The developers of the Transit app this week announced the expansion of real-time crowdsourced data for buses, trains, streetcars, ferries, and so forth to 175 cities across the United States, Canada,...
