In one or two paragraphs, describe the changes that have occurred ...

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In one or two paragraphs, describe the changes that have occurred in movie distribution since the Web became an important sales outlet for this medium.

Question 2

In one or two paragraphs, briefly describe two Web site features that are used by online clothing retailers to help customers find products in the right styles, colors, or sizes for them.

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Answer to Question 1

Movies were released traditionally by the major Hollywood studios (20th Century Fox, Paramount, Sony, Walt Disney, Warner Brothers, and Universal) into different markets in a well-defined pattern. Movies were first distributed to theaters, which paid a high price for the right to show the movie first. After its initial theater run, the movie might then have been sold to airlines for in-flight showings and to premium cable channels such as HBO or Starz. Next, the movie was released on DVD and became available for purchase or rental through retail video stores. Eventually, the movie was sold to broadcast television stations and basic cable channels.

Media producers are now experimenting with alternative distribution strategies. Some are now releasing movies online and on DVD simultaneously. As the number of online content distributors that charge either a subscription or a per-view fee for movies increases, media producers will be more amenable to releasing their product online because they know they will get paid for it. For example, Amazon.com sells the right to view movies and television shows on its Web site; Netflix offers online access to movies on its Web site as part of its DVD rental subscription plans; and Apples iTunes service includes video offerings for rent or purchase in addition to its many free video downloads.

Answer to Question 2

Many online clothing retailers offer personal shopper and virtual model features. The personal shopper is an intelligent agent program that learns the customers preferences and makes suggestions. The virtual model is a graphic image built from customer measurements and descriptions on which customers can try clothes.