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Netflix Partners With iPic To Release Its Original Movies In Theaters, NATO Urges To 'Tread Lightly' (variety.com)
turkeydance quotes a report from Variety: The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) is sounding the alarm over a recent deal between Netflix and iPic, in which the luxury-theater chain will screen 10 movies simultaneously with their release on the streaming service. The lobbying organization represents the country's theater chains and has been a staunch defender of traditional release windows that keep films exclusively on screens for roughly 90 days before they debut on home entertainment platforms. In a statement, NATO chief John Fithian warned that while iPic was free to make its own decisions, "We all should tread lightly and be mindful that over the years, the film industry's success is a direct result of a highly successful collaboration between film makers, distributors and exhibitors." The deal with iPic should help Netflix' movies quality for awards. Variety reports: "iPic will release the war thriller 'The Siege of Jadotville,' starring Jamie Dornan ('Fifty Shades of Grey'), on Oct. 7. That will be followed by Christopher Guest's mockumentary 'Mascots' on Oct. 13. This summer, iPic first tested showings of Netflix's 'The Little Prince.'" "Simultaneous release, in practice, has reduced both theatrical and home revenues when it has been tried," Fithian said in a statement. "Just as Netflix and its customers put a value on exclusivity, theater owners and their customers do too."
No joke. In any other industry, where producers "work together" to set pricing models, set up and maintain artificial scarcity, lock out competition, and do this to "ensure success", we call it conspiracy, collusion, and racketeering.
But it is somehow different for the entertainment industry.
For mysterious reasons, that are perfectly rational, and not at all tied to campaign kickbacks and political donations. No sir, not at all.
Netflix' deal with this theatre chain certainly won't expose decades of " false" lobbyist claims about immediate availability harming tickets sales, or anything like that-- media consumers will just stay home on release day, and it will be a disaster for both of them, that's what they mean here, I am sure! It is sure to demonstrate clearly and without distortion why industry needs to work lockstep to assure its future in the face of pirates, and inexpensive streaming, and certainly won't expose any of the industry's claims to the contrary false, no sir, not possible. /s