One of the last barriers to convenient film distribution via the internet fell yesterday with the launch of the first legal “download-to-burn” service in Britain.

Customers will be able to sign up with Lovefilm.com to create high-quality DVDs direct from their computers. Previously, customers could rent or buy films digitally but could not then transfer them to the DVD format. Hollywood has struggled to adapt to the digital revolution, which it has regarded traditionally as a threat to the box office.

The Lovefilm service, which will be available from next month, will open with a range of about 100 titles from the back catalogues of two major studios. Among the first films available will be Spider-Man 2, with Kirsten Dunst and Tobey Maguire, and Adaptation, starring Nicolas Cage. Prices start from £9.99 per film.

Simon Calver, chief executive of Lovefilm, said: “Download to burn is the next step in the evolution of movie purchasing and viewing. Whereas consumers may have been reluctant to watch films directly on their PC, they now have the choice to burn a huge library of films to DVD and watch them on their preferred medium of choice, and all without having to leave their living room.”

The innovation follows research by Lovefilm which shows that nearly six in ten consumers want the ability to burn movie downloads to DVD.

Lovefilm.com launched the first download-to-own film in April 2006 and now offers more than 2,500 titles for download. It has content partnerships with studios that include Warner Bros, Sony Pictures, Universal, Momentum, Icon, Tartan and Freemantle.

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