Major Hollywood studios start selling digital versions of movies such as King Kong on the Internet this week.

    BEIJING, April 5 (Xinhuanet) -- Major Hollywood studios start selling digital versions of movies on the Internet this week, the first time they have allowed U.S. consumers to buy films online and keep them on computers.

    The movies can't be burned onto a disc for viewing on a DVD player. But even so, the move is seen as a step toward full digital distribution of films over the Internet.

    Warner Brothers, Universal Pictures, Sony Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures and MGM will put films up for sale on a web site co-owned by the group for between 10 and 30 U.S. dollars. The name of the site is Movielink.com and the average price of a DVD is around 20 dollars.

    In a separate announcement, Sony and Lionsgate said they will sell films through the CinemaNow site. Films from the Walt Disney Co. will not be available. Both sites say talks are ongoing with the Walt Disney Co.

    The studios are turning to the Internet to cut distribution costs and counter slowing growth of DVD sales. Both CinemaNow and Movielink will offer films the same day they are released for sale on DVD, the companies said. Enditem

    (Agencies)