Associated Press
A man dressed as Spider Man passes a theater in Los Angeles during a screening of Alice inWonderland.
Posted on 05/23/2010 1:41:40 PM PDT by dr_who
By LAUREN A.E. SCHUKER and ETHAN SMITH
Major Hollywood studios and one of the country's largest cable operators are in discussions to send movies to people's living-room TVs just weeks after films hit the multiplex, a step that would shake up film distribution.
During a cable industry convention last week, executives from Time Warner Cable Inc. made the first formal pitch to the Hollywood studios for what is known as "home theater on demand." The cable company presented a variety of scenarios. But the main one, which has received early support from some studio executives, would allow consumers to watch a movie at home just 30 days after its theatrical release—far earlier than the usual four months—for roughly $20 to $30 a pop.
That proposal is still being debated and talks are fluid. People close to the matter say that several studios could sign on to a version of it as soon as the fall, making the first movies available on such a system by the end of the year or early 2011.
A man dressed as Spider Man passes a theater in Los Angeles during a screening of Alice inWonderland.
(snip)
While the plan could be a boon for consumers, it stands to be highly disruptive for the movie business, particularly theater owners. Hollywood would essentially be overhauling the "windowing" system which has sustained the industry for years.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
It could become an option for lousy movies (most of them) that do not have box-office traction.
Not good news for those who invested in movie theaters. I haven’t figured out why someone thought it was a good idea to build a large multiplex in our area, when the little triplex (sounds more modern than it is) is probably barely making it.
I thought those ones are usually “direct-to-video” anyway.
I haven’t been to a movie theater in over 10 years.
From what I hear, things haven’t gotten any better: kids talking on their cell phones, volume way too high, kids talking to each other, kids.
Oh and $10 popcorn and $8 drinks...
Why would pay $30 to see a movie on a TV, 30 days after release, when one can pay $10 and see it in theater on a much bigger screen, on the same day the movie comes out, get popcorn and soda and all that, and still not have spent $30?
The last movie I saw in The Passion, which I wanted to support. Usually, I just wait for it to come on TV.
They better figure out how to grow with technology quicker than this....anyone with a decent computer and connection already can watch a Theater movie in under 24 hrs in the comfort of their own home for free.
$30 buck PPV within 30 days? I don’t think so....
Some rich nitwit who jumps at any opportunity to show off his expensive home theater system.
And someone who doesn’t want to be surrounded by stupid 16 year olds who often are the chief theater-going demographic anyway for many blockbusters.
We had a triplex built in the late 60’s or early 70’s when the strip shopping center here was the biggest in America, at the time. lol. Now most of those storefronts are empty except for a Post Office, some dollar stores and the triplex running movies from India.
I can see where they may have some kind of consumer support for this. Basically the people that stopped going to the movie theaters because of the fact they’ve become little more than zoos. People who have stopped going because the ‘movie experience’ negatives outweigh the positives and they’ve stopped going. Compound it with much of the trash coming out of the studios being garbage and/or politically-correct bs that have turned people off.
Not everyone in these demos would find this appealing, but some would.
Just paid $30 for two adults to see Alice in 3D - just the tickets.
I loathe Hollywood so much that I think people should ENCOURAGE others to download pirated movies, even if they do not personally.
They have been crapping on this country for decades, and I think we should crap on them.
—>Pirating is sexy, funny, and smart<—
$20-30?
I won’t even spend $6.99 per movie for the current cable On Demand, not when I can get a whole months of 2-at-a-time DVDs from Netflix and unlimited streaming for $15/month.
I don’t mind waiting a few weeks. I have nearly 100 in my queue and more added weekly.
I’m not sure the $20-30 paradigm will work.
Same here.
Remember folks that the cable and Hollywood execs are just blowing smoke around. In the end, I expect to see the status-quo remain with more of an emphasis on technology that will create a movie and TV show database on a set box.
...of course, a family of four or five pays how much total for tickets... not to mention overpriced snacks...?
Since the movie’s at home, that family of four or five will be bugging the crap out of their parents to buy this and buy that, which means in the long run the bill will be higher.
Very small universe.
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