Apple's iTunes sells movies on DVD release date

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Apple Inc said on Thursday it would begin selling movie downloads on its iTunes service on the same day as the titles are released in DVD form, under an agreement with top Hollywood studios.

ITunes will offer new releases and catalog titles from such studios as 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Lionsgate.

Titles that will be available this week include "Juno," "American Gangster" and "I Am Legend."

Movie sales have been eyed as a new area of growth for Apple, possibly prompting consumers to buy newer models of its iPod digital media player. Earlier this year, Apple launched a service for iPod and iPhone users to rent and download movies to watch on their devices.

Warner Bros is part of Time Warner Inc, 20th Century Fox is owned by News Corp, Paramount is a unit of Viacom Inc. Universal Studios is part of media conglomerate NBC Universal, which is controlled by General Electric Co.