Viz has begun offering dubbed Naruto episode downloads through IGN's Direct2Drive download store.  The first 25 episodes are available now, and episodes #26-#52 are in 'Preview' mode.  The price is $1.99 per episode, or $99.95 for a 'bundle' of episodes which looks like all 52. 

The Naruto downloads join Death Note (see ''Death Note' Anime on Direct2Drive') and Bleach (see 'Viz Snares 'Bleach' Download Rights'), as the top three troika of Viz anime properties, all currently available on Direct2Drive. 

Viz plans to catch up to the dubbed Naruto DVD releases by the end of the year, according to a company spokesperson.  That would put have it up to about episode #72, which will be released as part of Naruto Volume #18, due out late November.

Once the download Naruto offerings are caught up, new dubbed episodes will be available via download on the Thursday before it streets in DVD form, according to the spokesperson.

The somewhat younger age target of Naruto presents some problems with the Direct2Drive model, as Viz Sr. VP Dan Marks discussed in our interview (see 'Interview with Viz's Dan Marks, Part 1').  But there are plenty of people with credit cards (or who have parents who do) who can take advantage of the new distribution channel.  And since this is only for dubbed episodes, hardcore anime fans will probably continue to prefer the DVDs (or illegal downloads).