What Problem Do Blog Classifieds Solve? >>
<< If The Patents Are Substantially The Same...
 tdicon 

Culture

by Carlo Longino

Tue, Feb 28th 2006 12:19pm





IFC, Comcast Close Movie Release Windows

from the there's-still-a-draft-in-there dept

Independent film studio IFC Entertainment and Comcast have announced a deal where Comcast users will be able to watch IFC movies the day they're released in theaters for $5.99 via the cable company's video-on-demand service. Studios should be aggressively making these deals -- deals that increase consumer choice and let them cast a wider net to catch those consumers (and their dollars) that don't want to conform to their rigid distribution plans, instead of driving them to downloads. Unsurprisingly, it's the independents that are making it happen, while Hollywood's idea of innovation is to release films on DVD and VOD at the same time, months after they've been in the theater, and months after all the advertising and hype is gone. There are a few different things going on here: major Hollywood studios assume that by releasing films to every platform at the same time, they'd be cutting off the incremental revenues they'd get from things like two people buying tickets to a film as opposed to paying the VOD charge once, or people that buy a DVD after paying to watch a movie in the theater. But those fears aren't that reasonable, particularly when weighed against all the opportunities that arise when a film's available across all the different distribution channels at the same time. The idea is to increase the size of the overall pie, not just make futile attempts to protect the size of certain pieces.

The second factor is the theaters themselves, which have been pretty vocal in their opposition to simultaneous releases. At this point, theaters' only competitive metric is the measure of exclusivity that windowed releases provide, and removing that would force them to confront the reality that many people find going to the movies an increasingly unpleasant experience. Currently, the only alternative for people that want to see first-run movies but don't want to go to the theater are downloads or other illegal means. The simultaneuous release of films across platforms would let people that want to see new movies, but don't want to go to theaters, make legitimate purchases -- which is a good thing, last time we checked. Forcing theaters to improve their offering would benefit the entire industry. Just look to China -- where piracy runs rampant -- for proof. The movie business is currently founded on exclusionary tactics that keep people (and their spending) out unless they conform to its rigid structure. People that want other alternatives, and are willing to pay, aren't left with any choices other than to turn to illegal means. But doing away with release windows, encouraging competition among different distribution platforms, and introducing other inclusionary measures that allow for more consumer choice stands to benefit everyone in the value chain.


9 Comments | Leave a Comment

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments (rss)

(Flattened / Threaded)

  1.  
    identicon
    Cody H, Feb 28th, 2006 @ 1:30pm

    simultaneous release of movies at theaters and on

    the only thing left is for the cable companies to figure out a way to charge you 50 dollars for a tub of popcorn and a drink while watching the movie at home now and they will be just like the theater!

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  
    identicon
    Sean, Feb 28th, 2006 @ 1:52pm

    Different situations

    I am in a difficult situation when it comes to going to the theaters to watch a movie. I have a disabled daughter that will not sit through a movie. She will make so much noise if we take her with us that we would be asked to leave or one of us take her out and the other misses the movie. She is VERY difficult to handle and we have burnt through a number of different sitters so that is not an option.

    The only chance we get to see a movie in the theaters is if we go to an early show on one of my Fridays that I have off (I get every other one off).

    I for one would definitely purchase a movie on VOD/DVD if it was one that I would enjoy. In fact I would be more likely to watch more movies if available through these mediums at the same time as theaters.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  
    identicon
    Don Hansen, Feb 28th, 2006 @ 1:52pm

    No Subject Given

    I applaud IFC and Comcast for this bold move. It's a great move, now to jsut get everyone else on board.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  
    identicon
    Rikko, Feb 28th, 2006 @ 3:14pm

    Re: Different situations

    Sean, if it makes you feel any better, the "experience" you're missing out on is getting more "magical" with every year that passes.
    I used to (and still can) get free movie passes from friends who work in theaters.. I basically never go anymore because it's not worth all the fuss and irritation.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  
    identicon
    o0otoxic, Feb 28th, 2006 @ 3:21pm

    Re: Different situations

    pepole have been doing this usein usenet for years ie 1 computer 1 usenet account never goin to the movies again priceless

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  6.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Feb 28th, 2006 @ 5:03pm

    No Subject Given

    And I can get these pay-per-view movies ONLY if I upgrade to digital cable for an additional $40 per month (without any premium channels). At $10/theater ticket, that's over 40 IFC films a year. I doubt that IFC produces a quarter of that number.

    When will Comcast figure out that the only way there are getting another fucking dime out of me is to GIVE me digital cable and then provide really interesting pay-per-view content, not by charging for access AND content. MORONS!

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  7.  
    identicon
    randomboy, Mar 1st, 2006 @ 7:16am

    I hope this happens

    I really hope that the movie companies will see that this is a good thing and that they will start simultaneously releasing their movies on multiple media. This way the dvdrip will be available at the same time as the screener on eMule!

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  8.  
    identicon
    Guard, Jul 17th, 2006 @ 10:34am

    I'm pretty much able to go to the theatre free as well if i wanted to, yet for around a year I never went to the theatre, because of the hassle, the risks you run if you get a bad crowd, and how unpleasant the experience can be.

    Right now, I go to the theatre for movies sometimes, but I go and pay at a different one just because the seats are more comfortable (but can still be uncomfortable at times...). So for me, its something as little as a comfortable seat thats making me willing to pay the $7-8 a ticket... and even thats something rare to find in a theatre.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  9.  
    identicon
    ayesandar, Jan 25th, 2008 @ 1:32am

    good

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


Add Your Comment

Have a Techdirt Account? Sign in now. Want one? Register here
Get Techdirt’s Daily Email
Save me a cookie
  • Note: A CRLF will be replaced by a break tag (<br>), all other allowable HTML will remain intact
  • Allowed HTML Tags: <b> <i> <a> <em> <br> <strong> <blockquote> <hr> <tt>
What Problem Do Blog Classifieds Solve? >>
<< If The Patents Are Substantially The Same...
 tdicon 
Follow Techdirt
Flattr rss rss
A word from our Sponsors...
Sponsored Resource
Essential Reading
Techdirt Reading List
Techdirt Insider Chat

A word from our Sponsors...
Recent Stories

Wednesday

3:26pm: Eric Schmidt Still A Fan Of Figuring Out A Way To Erase The Past (0)
2:24pm: Chinese Hacks Of Google Database Of Surveillance Targets Highlight How Dumb Technology Backdoors Are (5)
1:20pm: Released Video From Silva Beating Shows His Last Moments; Video Of Actual Beating Still Missing (24)
12:17pm: AT&T Says You Can Use Any Video Streaming App You Want... Just As Soon As It Can Get The Meter Running (15)
11:14am: Reporters Find Exposed Personal Data Via Google, Threatened With CFAA Charges (45)
10:07am: New York Times Tells Startup It Can't Even Mention The NY Times (40)
9:12am: So It's Come To This: Seven High School Students Arrested For Throwing... Water Balloons (124)
7:50am: First Hand Account Of Judicial Smackdown Of Prenda In Minnesota (93)
5:51am: Quack Professor Releases Dumbest Violent Video Game Theory Ever (45)
3:46am: How Low Can Drones Go? (64)
More arrow
A word from our Sponsors...

Close

Email This