Studio films going day-and-date at iTunes Store (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Apple is expected toannounce Thursday that it has struck a deal with a wide arrayof movie studios to sell new releases at its iTunes Store.

The move would allow a broad slate of top-shelf films to beoffered day-and-date with home video releases, which riskscannibalizing DVD sales.

Such a move would also put significant pressure on iTunescompetitors ranging from Amazon's Unbox to Microsoft XBox LiveMarketplace.

The new arrangement is expected to involve Fox, Walt DisneyStudios, Warner Bros., Paramount, Universal, Sony Pictures,Lionsgate and New Line. The deal does not include new titlesfrom MGM, but does extend to boutique firms such as Magnoliaand Image Entertainment.

The deal comes on the heels of Apple's announcement inJanuary that it had signed all of the studios to movie rentals,with each title costing just $3-$4 for consumers to access fora 30-day period. Movie purchases, however, could cost as muchas $15.

Apple hasn't moved as aggressively to date on film as ithas in TV, with most download-to-own devoted to older titles instudio libraries. But Apple's success with those deals, whichincluded MGM, Disney and Paramount, likely encouraged studiosto take the next step.

In March, Disney CEO Bob Iger publicly estimated that hiscompany had sold 4 million movies via iTunes since it becamethe first studio to try download-to-own in 2006. A few majornew releases already have been made available day-and-date inrecent weeks on iTunes, including Fox's "Juno."

Thursday's announcement is expected to contain new data onthe success of Apple's movie revenue to date.

The news follows Wednesday's disclosure by Time Warner CEOJeffrey Bewkes that Warner Bros. will experiment withvideo-on-demand releases day-and-date with DVD.

The announcement originally was expected to be releasedearlier in the week, perhaps timed to the fifth anniversary ofiTunes, which was Monday.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter