Movie studios may sidestep theater chains in deals for early Apple iTunes rentals
Movie studios looking to set up early-access rentals with companies like Apple and Comcast may reportedly push ahead with those negotiations and skip revenue sharing with theater chains, if the latter don't reduce their demands.
Early-access rentals would let people stream movies through services like iTunes just weeks after their premieres, possibly while they're still in theaters. To appease exhibitors, studios have discussed a revenue split, but balked at proposed long-term commitments up to 10 years, according to Bloomberg sources. For the end customer, early rentals would likely cost between $30 and $50.
Agreements with the likes of Apple and Comcast could be achieved as soon as next year, the sources added, in which case they might be used to force theater owners to back down. Another advantage in the studios' corner is said to be Disney's upcoming streaming service, even if the company has so far skipped early-access talks because of its success with big theatrical releases like the "Star Wars" and Marvel movies.
Theaters could choose to boycott movies slated for early access if they don't get favorable terms. Indeed some studio executives are allegedly adopting a less aggressive position.
Digital rentals and purchases typically aren't allowed until at least three months after a film's premiere. Some proposals being floated would slap a $50 pricetag on viewing after 17 days, or $30 after 4 to 6 weeks. It's possible that studios could experiment with different windows overseas before bringing one to the U.S.
Apple is meanwhile believed to be preparing a fifth-generation Apple TV with 4K and HDR support, and upgrading its iTunes content to match. Having both could be essential if the company wants to draw in early-access customers.
Early-access rentals would let people stream movies through services like iTunes just weeks after their premieres, possibly while they're still in theaters. To appease exhibitors, studios have discussed a revenue split, but balked at proposed long-term commitments up to 10 years, according to Bloomberg sources. For the end customer, early rentals would likely cost between $30 and $50.
Agreements with the likes of Apple and Comcast could be achieved as soon as next year, the sources added, in which case they might be used to force theater owners to back down. Another advantage in the studios' corner is said to be Disney's upcoming streaming service, even if the company has so far skipped early-access talks because of its success with big theatrical releases like the "Star Wars" and Marvel movies.
Theaters could choose to boycott movies slated for early access if they don't get favorable terms. Indeed some studio executives are allegedly adopting a less aggressive position.
Digital rentals and purchases typically aren't allowed until at least three months after a film's premiere. Some proposals being floated would slap a $50 pricetag on viewing after 17 days, or $30 after 4 to 6 weeks. It's possible that studios could experiment with different windows overseas before bringing one to the U.S.
Apple is meanwhile believed to be preparing a fifth-generation Apple TV with 4K and HDR support, and upgrading its iTunes content to match. Having both could be essential if the company wants to draw in early-access customers.
Comments
My wife and I recently went out to the movies, for the first time since our child was born in 2016. The movie was about 2 hours and we went out for ice cream afterward. In total we were out of the house for close to 4 hours. The babysitter alone cost us $60. (I don't have any idea what the 'going rate' for a babysitter is. We pay a family friend $15/hour. She's 25 and has her degree in Early Childhood Education and she does a great job so...)
So, paying $50 to stay home to see the same movie sounds like a bargain. And the more people you add to the mix the cheaper it becomes (relative to going out).
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the theater experience and would go more frequently if I could. But for me and my situation this option would be more affordable most of the time.
As to your point 1) I don't see owning a copy of your rental happening. Best case they could offer a discount but even that idea is probably far fetched. Kind of along the lines where on iTunes you could pay less than the album cost to complete an album that you had only downloaded a song or 2 from. Still, I doubt it.
People have been wishing for sort of an iTunes Match for movies. It would be great but I think the studios are so used to having people repurchase movies in different formats that it would not even be considered. As an example, I got "Enemy of the State" as a free iTunes download a long time ago. It's in SD, even today. It never got upgraded to SD and is currently not even available. So, if even iTunes downloads that were originally in SD to get a bump I don't see that iTunes Match scenario happening any time soon.
https://www.inverse.com/article/35556-moviepass-cinema-film-movie-how-to-buy
Its not without its critics, however:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/moviepass-rejects-legal-threats-amc-004600528.html
I find going to the cinema to see a film a rather primitive and all round worse experience nowadays. Cinema chairs are awful, screens are old/too small/too big, cinemas are filthy but going from an average of £15 to what could be £40-£50 is ridiculous. I go to the cinema 3-4 times a month, one cannot pay £40-£50 a pop.
Up to the same price as going to the cinema (if not lower) would make sense and it would allow Apple to get their cut as well.
Something I had thought or hoped who'd be happening by now is that Theatres would start to exclusively show block buster features only, you're, Star Wars, Avengers, and so on, and all the dramas chickflicks and romcoms and the likes get to be the new TV, I pesonaly hate the theatre, theres nothing that ruins a movie more for me that people who cheer or clap hands or abruptly stand infront of me, Fuck !!!!, I've probably only been to an actual cinema maybe 5 times in my entire life and the last time I went to watch something I just had to experience with other people was MJ's "This Is It" and thankfully no one ruined that for me, I got the discs later and it was even more enjoyable. I think an experience that requires you to actually get all dressed up and leave you're house had better be all kinds of awesome, something that can't be recreated at home, with a kickass 120 inch
A dozen or so barcaloungers, a wet bar in the back. Offer catering. Heck, the next room is a little play pen for kiddos.
Lots of opportunity here. Just takes someone with some financing and a vision. You're welcome.
I went to see the Senna documentary a few years back, and some dumbass was eating a cheeseburger, fries and coke next to me! Sheesh!. Never went again.