[bb4ty]

The first time I ever bought any movies from the Video Store was December 2013 during the holiday sale. Got a bunch at 99 cents each. Prior to those purchases in December, I got the Sherlock Holmes freebie a couple of years ago. I do not know if the 99-cent deals are ongoing throughout the year and I did not browse the Video Store since December until a couple of days ago. To my delight, I found several at 99 cents. Thank you, Blackberry!

The love the BlackBerry PlayBook Video Store is showing currently are as follows:

1. 12 Years a Slave
2. The Book Thief
3. Jack Reacher
4. Runner Runner
5. The Counselor (Unrated Extended Cut)
6. Hugo
7. Shrek
8. Turbo
9. The Croods
10. Rango
11. Kung Fu Panda 2
12. Puss in Boots
13. Tooth Fairy
14. Romeo & Juliet ($4.99)
15. Enough Said ($4.99)

All the above movies are 99 cents unless otherwise indicated.

Before you buy, you may wish to check into whether you can transfer purchased movies from the PlayBook to outside storage like your computer and then view it through the computer. I think that back in December, there was a thread which discussed this issue and it appeared that the movies can only be played on or through the PlayBook. If it was transferred out of the PlayBook and you tried to play it, it showed a licensing problem and would not play. As I have three PlayBooks (2 64 GB and 1 16 GB), I never bothered to try transferring the movies I bought to external storage so I did not pay much attention to that situation.

Even if you do not have enough storage on your PlayBook to load more than a couple of movies, and if the above about not being able to use external storage is correct, it is still worth it to buy, watch and delete, and repeat. Consider it a 99-cent rental. I wonder though, if we delete a 99-cent sale movie from the PlayBook, whether we can still download it again in the future at no additional charge. Anyone tried it? Let me know. If we can, then that's the solution to the low storage problem on a PlayBook.

I just remembered I had deleted the Sherlock Holmes movie download which we all got for free a couple of years back from the Video Store and it still appeared in My Library with a download icon above it. I selected download and it did start to download. After a few moments, I was able to start watching while it downloaded. I then cancelled the download as I already ascertained that I was able to download it again. So I know it works with that particular freebie but I do not know if it works for the 99-cent sale movies.

For 99 cents, you can't go wrong even if you cannot watch it outside of the PlayBook. If you find others while browsing, please post the info here. I am always up for great deals on movies.

Thanks again, BlackBerry.

[silvanus55]

Can you move it to a cloud storage, but still play it through the PB. That way you do not have to worry about storage on the PB.

[pkcable]

Every movie I get from the store has a licensing problem. I stopped buying them!

[bb4ty]

I do not know about moving it to cloud storage and still playing it through the PlayBook. Never tried it as I do not have any concern about storage yet. My 64 GB PlayBooks still have room for more stuff.

[bb4ty]

pkcable,

Sorry to hear about your problems with the movies you purchased. I have been lucky as I have more than 40 movies from the Video Store downloaded onto my PlayBooks and every one of them play very well.

Last December, I tried to purchase True Grit and The Dictator and I did indeed have licensing problems with those two movies. True Grit, for example would appear to load properly but when I tried to play it, a box indicating a licensing problem opened and I could not play it. I actually tried to buy those movies multiple times but failed to get them to play. I called the Video Store folks at Rovi and they said they issued me refunds or that they never charged me for the unsuccessful purchases. I know I received receipts for some of the unsuccessful purchases and I know I received at least one refund but I did not bother to follow up on checking my credit card statements for subsequent failed purchases. That was my fault, but I figured since I got such a great deal on the movies, I could let that slide.

I have not experienced any problems with the current batch of movies. All purchases work on the PlayBooks. I just connect the hdmi to the TV when watching at home.

Why don't you give it another try. Get a refund if it doesn't work.

[DigitalMadness]

pkcable,

Sorry to hear about your problems with the movies you purchased. I have been lucky as I have more than 40 movies from the Video Store downloaded onto my PlayBooks and every one of them play very well.

Last December, I tried to purchase True Grit and The Dictator and I did indeed have licensing problems with those two movies. True Grit, for example would appear to load properly but when I tried to play it, a box indicating a licensing problem opened and I could not play it. I actually tried to buy those movies multiple times but failed to get them to play. I called the Video Store folks at Rovi and they said they issued me refunds or that they never charged me for the unsuccessful purchases. I know I received receipts for some of the unsuccessful purchases and I know I received at least one refund but I did not bother to follow up on checking my credit card statements for subsequent failed purchases. That was my fault, but I figured since I got such a great deal on the movies, I could let that slide.

I have not experienced any problems with the current batch of movies. All purchases work on the PlayBooks. I just connect the hdmi to the TV when watching at home.

Why don't you give it another try. Get a refund if it doesn't work.

Have you ever deleted your movies and re-added them later to watch?
I know the sale they had at Christmas, once you pass the January 5 date, you can't re-download it anymore even though you had paid for it.

[DigitalMadness]

OP - what region are you in? Those movies are regular price here in Canada.

[Chaddface]

.99 In the US

In my experience you can move the file to save space on the PB but it will only play on the PlayBook which it was originally downloaded.
If you have multiple PlayBooks you can sign out on one and sign in using the same name and password on another to download again.

[KDB84]

Strange - just checked Runner Runner and 12 Years a Slave (here in Canada) and it shows two versions for each. The main version (buy for $19.99 or rent for $4.99) and a second version rent for $0.00. Free rentals!

[DigitalMadness]

Strange - just checked Runner Runner and 12 Years a Slave (here in Canada) and it shows two versions for each. The main version (buy for $19.99 or rent for $4.99) and a second version rent for $0.00. Free rentals!

Is the second version the trailer?

[Gooseberry Falls]

When you d/l these from the Video Store, you get a DRM file (license) and the movie file (.ismv). I looked and there are some DRM folders on the PB. I asked Rovi what I needed to backup in case I had to do a wipe. They would never tell me. SEAWARRIOR figured out that if you do a backup and restore, the movies would play. If you wipe the PB without backup, you are out of luck even if you have the movie file as you have lost the license. A lot of the movies during the Holiday Sale could not be d/l after 1/1/14. So, if you lost the license or movie file, that 99 cents is lost. I complained to them that they need to give users a backup strategy since many PBs are limited in storage. They countered that that is the way they prevent mass distribution. So, I think if you d/l and store the big movie file somewhere else, and bring it back to the same device with the license on it, it should be watchable. Then, if you keep you PB backed up to keep the license info, you should be OK if you have to do a wipe. I have not tested this as I don't routinely wipe my PB. There is always a chance of corruption when you move files alot. Best is if the move remains in your library and you can d/l it as many times as you want. I think they only give you a limit of 3 times, tho...

[MisterShark]

Seems that the sale must have ended.
I'm in the US and Rango is at regular price

[b121]

Every movie I get from the store has a licensing problem. I stopped buying them!

I've successfully bought and played several. Not sure why it worked for me and not you. Sorry to hear.

Posted via CB10 (7250 -> 8703e -> 9530 -> 9550 -> 9650 -> 9930 -> PlayBook -> Z10 -> Z30)

[bb4ty]

Several of the titles listed in my original post are no longer on sale and I found three more that are on sale:

1. The Descendants
2. True Grit
3. Water for Elephants ($4.99)

I purchased True Grit again this time and like back in December, it did not work. Could not acquire the license after it started downloading so I stopped it and called Rovi and got a refund. Told them I did not appreciate the Video Store putting this movie on sale in December and again this month and yet not being able to get it to work properly. I hope it works for you if you decide to buy it anyway.

The other two movies should work. I bought The Descendants in December and it was fine.

DigitalMadness, I am located in California. Sorry that Canada may not have the movies on sale. To address your other query - in my original post, I said I was able to delete the freebie (Sherlock Holmes) and then download it again but did not know if I could do this with the movies I purchased on sale back in December. Sherlock Holmes is once again deleted but shows in My Library as ready to be downloaded again.

Yesterday, I called Rovi about the True Grit problem and after that was handled, I asked the customer service representative if I could delete the movies I bought on sale and downloaded in December and then download them again at a future date. He said that I could. I repeated my question at least two times in our discussion, just to be sure. In fact, he told me that I could download each movie up to five times. Gooseberry Falls indicated that we might be limited to three downloads but it seems we can do it up to five times.

After I hung up, I immediately deleted one of the movies I bought for 99 cents in December and then started downloading it again and it worked. I let it download until it was half way done and then I stopped it. I do not know if an interrupted download will count as one of the five, but it does not matter as I doubt I will download any movie five times.

All the movies on sale (December and now) gave buyers only a few days to download or else they would no longer be able to do so. I think most of us assumed that it meant that once downloaded, we would never be able to download again after the date had passed. Apparently, we were mistaken and we can delete a downloaded movie and then re-download, up to five downloads if needed.

So it seems the deadline is just the time limit for us to do the first download. If we fail to do so, then we would not get the benefit of our purchase at the sale price as we would not be able to download it after the expiration of the deadline. However, if we do the initial download properly, we can then delete it and re-download up to four more times.

I suggest if you plan to delete your movies and then re-download them at a future date that you also test it with one movie first to see if my successful experience also works for you.

[Monsterlad]

What works for me is downloading the movies to the playbook through the video store, then connecting the playbook to the computer. Then I click on playbook in the directory and just click and drag the movies that are currently on the tablet into a separate folder. Then when you want to watch whatever movies now saved on the computer, just connect the playbook to the computer and drag the files back to it. Simple as that. Just adding my 2 cents.

[MisterShark]

Tried downloading True Grit also, twice, and both times it failed on the license acquisition.

Got a refund but I would have preferred the movie.

I also noticed that it's available for. 99 in BlackBerry World on my Z30.
Might end up giving it a try that way.

Posted via CB10

[MisterShark]

Just tried once more to purchase True Grit, this time via BlackBerry World on my Z30: basically same result. The download stops almost immediately and a message about an expired license pops up.

I emailed support asking for yet another refund and relayed the message that their True Grit download offering needs attention.

Posted via CB10

[Gooseberry Falls]

What works for me is downloading the movies to the playbook through the video store, then connecting the playbook to the computer. Then I click on playbook in the directory and just click and drag the movies that are currently on the tablet into a separate folder. Then when you want to watch whatever movies now saved on the computer, just connect the playbook to the computer and drag the files back to it. Simple as that. Just adding my 2 cents.

Yes, that will work IF you never have to wipe your PB. You also need the DRM license to watch the movie. If you backup/restore the PB, you should be OK. Or, apparently, you can d/l the movie up to 5 times from the video store.

[TheScionicMan]

So I decided to buy Runner Runner. For a buck, I figured it's worth a shot. It told me I had to download it by today 3/26. Started the download and then noticed that they emailed me a receipt. Wait, what? $16.99?? Called the support number and after some fiddling around, they issued me a refund. I meant to ask them if I'd still be able to watch it but forgot. I went back to the PB and saw that the movie was still able to play, so I went to look for other movies and it disappeared. I thought I had lost it since it no longer shows in the Video Store, but I am still able to play it from the Video app. Can't beat that price.

[Mr KLScott]

Wow, thanks to the OP, really cleared up a lot for me.

Posted via CB10

[bb4ty]

If you haven't been pranked yet and have no plans to prank someone this April Fools' Day but want some good laughs, then accept the Video Store's AFD gift for us. I found the following three comedies on sale today for 99 cents each:

1. Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (Unrated version)
2. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (Unrated version)
3. A.C.O.D.

I think they should be on sale until April 16th since I was prompted to download by this date when I purchased them.

Since the PlayBook is reportedly not going to be receiving any further updates (beyond the one yesterday), I wonder how this may affect the movies that have been purchased. I would assume that the ones downloaded onto the device will have no problems playing, but I wonder if we can continue to download up to the supposed 5 times indefinitely, i.e. would Rovi abandon the Video Store?

Maybe I am thinking too much into it. At 99 cents each, it is still a very good deal no matter what.

[Gooseberry Falls]

If you haven't been pranked yet and have no plans to prank someone this April Fools' Day but want some good laughs, then accept the Video Store's AFD gift for us. I found the following three comedies on sale today for 99 cents each:

1. Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (Unrated version)
2. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (Unrated version)
3. A.C.O.D.

I think they should be on sale until April 16th since I was prompted to download by this date when I purchased them.

Since the PlayBook is reportedly not going to be receiving any further updates (beyond the one yesterday), I wonder how this may affect the movies that have been purchased. I would assume that the ones downloaded onto the device will have no problems playing, but I wonder if we can continue to download up to the supposed 5 times indefinitely, i.e. would Rovi abandon the Video Store?

Maybe I am thinking too much into it. At 99 cents each, it is still a very good deal no matter what.

The last OS shutdown I went through (Microsoft's Windows Mobile), the services were all shutdown within 6 mos to a year. So it will be important to keep your PB backed up from now on. BBRY World may still be common to the phones and PB but the Video Store only serves the PB.

[bb4ty]

The last OS shutdown I went through (Microsoft's Windows Mobile), the services were all shutdown within 6 mos to a year. So it will be important to keep your PB backed up from now on. BBRY World may still be common to the phones and PB but the Video Store only serves the PB.

Thanks for the advice. Looks like we will not be able to take advantage of the "up to five downloads". Will be sure to back up my PBs.

[bb4ty]

If you haven't been pranked yet and have no plans to prank someone this April Fools' Day but want some good laughs, then accept the Video Store's AFD gift for us. I found the following three comedies on sale today for 99 cents each:

1. Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (Unrated version)
2. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (Unrated version)
3. A.C.O.D.

I think they should be on sale until April 16th since I was prompted to download by this date when I purchased them.

Since the PlayBook is reportedly not going to be receiving any further updates (beyond the one yesterday), I wonder how this may affect the movies that have been purchased. I would assume that the ones downloaded onto the device will have no problems playing, but I wonder if we can continue to download up to the supposed 5 times indefinitely, i.e. would Rovi abandon the Video Store?

Maybe I am thinking too much into it. At 99 cents each, it is still a very good deal no matter what.

Sorry folks, sale over. I heard they were no longer 99 cents. I checked and sure enough, the sale was only good yesterday. Glad I did not wait to buy them.

[zaxin]

I'm glad I bought all three last night! Thanks for the notice. I love these $0.99 sales!


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