Slashdot Mirror
Hollywood, Apple Said To Mull Rental Plan, Defying Theaters (bloomberg.com)
An anonymous reader shares a report: Movie studios are considering whether to ignore the objections of cinema chains and forge ahead with a plan to offer digital rentals of films mere weeks after they appear in theaters, according to people familiar with the matter. Some of the biggest proponents, including Warner Bros and Universal Pictures, are pressing on in talks with Apple and Comcast on ways to push ahead with the project even without theater chains, the people said. After months of negotiations, the two sides have been unable to arrive at a mutually beneficial way to create a $30 to $50 premium movie-download product. The leading Hollywood studios, except for Walt Disney, are eager to introduce a new product to make up for declining sales of DVDs and other home entertainment in the age of Netflix. They have discussed sharing a split of the revenue from premium video on demand, or PVOD, with the cinema chains if they give their blessing to the concept. But the exhibitors have sought a long-term commitment of as much as 10 years for that revenue split, which the studios have rejected, the people said. Deals with potential distributors such as Apple and Comcast could be reached as soon as early next year to sell digital downloads of major films as soon as two weeks after they debut in theaters, the people said.
I really enjoy the theater. The screen and sound simply can't be replicated at home. But the price is absolutely rediculous. The $12 admission is a tad high but for an occasional treat not unreasonable. The real offensive part is being charged $20 for a large popcorn and 2 drinks. Or if I'm alone, $16 for a popcorn and small glass of water.
The snack stand is going to be the demise of the theater.
As a side note. My theater is independent and doesn't show ads. I've been to an AMC recently and felt like Milton from Office space. Wanting to burn the building.
I go once a year, and it'll be to a movie like Star Wars on Day 1 where I want to want to watch it with a loud crowd. 99.9% of the time, I find other people's talking and cellphone glare to be distracting/annoying, and would prefer to use theater money to buy the movie outright a few months later.
I'm sorry, I'm not paying $30-$50 to watch any single movie. I can get entire seasons of TV shows I love for $20.
The cost of this is ludicrous. It makes me wonder if they're hoping this will fail hard so they can blame piracy or something silly like that.
wow, $30+ bucks for the privilege to watch some shitty movie at home vs waiting 6 months to watch the same shitty movie at home for $1 (or free)? Such a compelling value proposition, tell me more.
That's got to be some good stuff if they seriously think they can do away with the theatres (who get $30/person out of you by the time you hit concessions) without providing the big screen, big sound, or the concessions that are overpriced so the theatre can stay in business despite the ridiculous screening fees. Oh, and BOOST the ticket price an extra $20 just in case you have your spouse or kids in the room when you watch the movie.
Definitely some high quality product they're using to alter their mental states.
I am not going to pay for movies at this point. Why should I? Why would I enrich the Leftist content industries? I want them to collapse.
They might have considered the negative aspects of political grandstanding before doing so. A wise business never has a political stance. The newspaper industry over history should be fairly instructive on the pitfalls of having a slant.
to watch it anytime sure.
by TheSpoom (715771) Uncaring Linux user here. I have nothing to add to this but please continue. *munches popcorn*
They still think we all gather around the TV after Mom's home cooked dinner to watch Jack Benny.
I'm not spending $4 on a DVD right now! What makes you think I'll spend $50?
If they wanted to improve business, they'd BACK OFF THE COPY PROTECTION racket! Let us buy a DVD, put it into a device, rip it, watch it on ANYTHING we own over WiFi at the push of a button, even download it for those long car trips and doctors office waiting rooms.
Until a DVD can compete with Netflix, they're obsolete! Netflix means I can watch a video like I'd read a book - anywhere & anytime. And at the push of a button without hauling a library of fragile disks around with me.
Don't let me use what I've bought in the name of copy protection? Then don't expect me to buy any more!
Sir Chris Gent, founder of Vodafone, once famously quipped that
"SMS is the closest thing to pure profit ever invented". This deal would surely take that crown.
"I bless every day that I continue to live, for every day is pure profit."
In many Asian countries, legal DVDs of films frequently are made available at "reasonable price" (relative to cost of living in the said locale) in store within weeks of opening. Content producer learn over the years that the more they tighten the distribution, the more illicit copies slip through their fingers. It was easier to cash in on the novelty early on with film-only DVD, then milk the fans again later with director's cuts containing extras. People that wants the "big screen experience" will watch the film in the theater regardless of DVD availability.
Apparently this lesson is lost to Hollywood.
Make a deal with HBO to show GOT episodes, for instance. I bet they could get a decent crowd to watch it Sunday night. Have marathons of previous seasons.
Think outside the box, or die.
The National Association of Theater Owners has had every opportunity to use its clout to get a bigger piece of the pie, but they haven't. Getting a bigger percent of the ticket sales sh/would result in lower concession pricing. Now, they can go fuck themselves.
I think none of you actually go to the movies for new releases. For a family of four it is around $50.00 for normal show times pricing.
So 30.00 is not exactly allot comparatively. It's not a bargain but I could see people/families using this.
This is the way things will go. I have no time to go to the theater, unless it's date night with the wife. If it's a guy flick, I would just go alone since it's easier than scheduling with friends. But, driving to the theater is like 10-15 min and need to go early and need to buy snacks at theater. So just don't end up going. I would check online to see if it's available for rent, but that's usually months out. And you know what? I would just forget about the movie b/c there is always news stuff coming out. If you give me instant ability to get my movie fix for a new release, I would spend even $15 / movie, if I can stream it on my computer.
I won't have to wait a couple months after the movie is released to download a good quality rip for free.
There are movies I need to go to the theater to see, there seem to be less of them every year though.
$50 for a 24h license to watch a movie, great idea. Let me guess next idea will be to require your TV to have a webcam to count number of people to charge you per viewer?
If the movie studios kill the theatres then they (the movie studios) will become mere tv studios without an actual tv channel.
Television show production houses are a dime-a-dozen.
Who's going to pay $100 million dollars or more to make yet another made-for-tv movie?
If you're a zombie and you know it, bite your friend!
Technology changes markets and companies either adapt or get left behind. 30 years ago, encyclopedias were a thriving industry, today, those products no longer exist due to the innovation of the internet. In the same vein, consumers have spoken, and as the Luddites die out, the next generation will consume all of it's media on demand, commercial free in the comfort of wherever they want to view it from for a nominal fee (not $50 BTW, that is pure fantasy). Companies can adapt, or they can go bankrupt. There will still be niche markets, but they will be just that.
If you disagree, please post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like
The snack stand is going to be the demise of the theater.
See that's what you don't understand. The snack stand is where the theater makes all their profit. They don't make any money on the movies themselves. The studio keeps most of the gross profits from the movie. Movie theaters really are just concession stands that use movies to get you in the door. I'm sympathetic if you consider it overpriced but if they didn't charge you an arm and a leg for refreshments they wouldn't be in business for long.
My theater is independent and doesn't show ads.
Then in all likelihood they won't be around for long.
I absolutely hate the experience of going to most movie theaters these days, so I don't even consider a movie as existing until its available outside the theaters.
But I may amend this -- it also doesn't exist if it costs $30-50 to see it.
They have discussed sharing a split of the revenue from premium video on demand, or PVOD, with the cinema chains if they give their blessing to the concept.
It is nice to seek cinema chains' blessing, but why do they need it? Usually big corporations just take the money without regards to consequences for third parties.
The theater chain where I live pulled a fast one on it's customers. They got rid of their large size cups and started calling their medium sized cups large and kept the same price.
So one week I go to the theatre and get a large drink, large popcorn and a bag of M&M's for about $18. Following week I go, order the same thing and get handed a medium sized drink. I told the clerk, no I wanted a large. He said that is the large, now. Same combo a week later with a smaller drink and it still cost $18. Fucking greedy bastards.
If you really want to pay attention to the show, do it at home, with pause, rewind and replay
Theaters can be fun as a party place, where food and drink are the main attraction, and there's a movie playing over there
Comment removed based on user account deletion
All they have to do is price their DVD's at a reasonable price. I'm sure sales would more than recuperate.
Many in my local area have transitioned themselves to premium experiences, IMAX 3D with reserved reclining seats and I think if they have any future, that's where it lies. They need to give people something they can't get at home.
One thing they could do to complete that process would be to become more vigilant in protecting the value of the premium service. Meaning, have ushers on patrol dealing with people making a nuisance of themselves, more clearly informing people of the expectations, and actually taking action when other customers violate them, including banning people for life.
Screw that