Apple Said to Have Declined Offer From Sony to Host 'The Interview' on iTunes

[skratch77]

Apple is a for profit company that doesn't need anything to do with "The Interview" to continue making billions per quarter. Releasing it or not is all about dollars and cents. Why tick off a group that was able to do that kind of damage to Sony when you don't have to? It's the same reason the big theater chains backed out. The implied threat of violence had nothing to do with it. It's a business decision.

Violence was the only reason it was pulled from the theaters.they got a threat and we have already had people in mass shootings in theaters and all you need is one pissed off Korean to grab a crap load of guns and ammo and shoot up a place.

It will be shown in select theaters with security in check.

How well would it go for Sony if they decided to show the movie and some person shot up a theater? It would of been a complete disaster for sony.

 

[kdarling]

You might be right if Apple never decides to offer this movie on iTunes. So far we have no evidence of that. It could be as simple as Cook didn't feel like calling people back into the office on Christmas Eve to get this movie up on iTunes.

Whatever reason it was that caused Apple to not help, it was not because it was the holidays. Inserting another title for sale is not a huge deal. Heck, Apple released their first ever automatic Mac security update just before Christmas, and that required a lot more inside attention.

That said, there could be understandable reasons. For example, the FBI was originally telling movie theatres to treat the threats as real. Of course, iTunes is not a theatre, but Apple could've said that they feared for their Store employees, or that they didn't think their servers can stand up to an outside DDoS attack.

Also, did the White House refuse Sony's request to ask Apple to help, or did Apple do that on their own? There's a lot we don't know yet. If their reason is good, Apple should have no problem coming out and explaining why they said no. Silence is doing them no favors.

No I don't have to figure anything and Apple doesn't have to say anything. I have no idea when Apple was approached. All I know is we didn't hear about it until Christmas Eve.

Apparently companies were approached a week beforehand. According to Google's official blog of Wed Dec 24:

Last Wednesday Sony began contacting a number of companies, including Google, to ask if we’d be able to make their movie, "The Interview," available online. We'd had a similar thought and were eager to help—though given everything that’s happened, the security implications were very much at the front of our minds.

Of course it was tempting to hope that something else would happen to ensure this movie saw the light of day. But after discussing all the issues, Sony and Google agreed that we could not sit on the sidelines and allow a handful of people to determine the limits of free speech in another country (however silly the content might be).

So starting at 10 a.m. PST in the U.S., you can rent or buy "The Interview" on Google Play and YouTube Movies. It will also be available to Xbox Video customers and via www.seetheinterview.com.

- Google

 

[dk001]

It is a dumb movie anyway. who cares? And before you say don't I know what I am talking about because I haven't seen... the trailer was dumb.... I have limited cash to spend and the summary sounded like something I shouldn't waste my money or my time on......

You, like so many others portray this in a matter of nickels and dimes. That isn't the point. Instead of standing up for the liberties and decrying the sniveling of a two-bit dictator, Apple decided to execute via, apparently, the almighty dollar.

 

[caesarp]

saw it last night ...

Saw the Interview last night via Xbox streaming. It was okay. Better than I though for the first half, but deteriorated at the end with cartoonish violence.

I also thought that Franco played his character way too much over the top. It didn't even seem like he was acting, but was just being silly.

 

[Cpt. Gilgamesh]

There truly is a God.
http://recode.net/2014/12/28/apple-starts-streaming-the-interview-too/

 

[KPOM]

The Interview is on iTunes!

It just was posted a few minutes ago. https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the-interview/id948499637

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

Thing that is news to me: Apparently Apple won't let you screenshot trailers from iTunes. https://twitter.com/pkafka/status/549268919631237120/photo/1

 

[2IS]

There truly is a God.
http://recode.net/2014/12/28/apple-starts-streaming-the-interview-too/

It's about time Apple pulled it's head out of it's ass. I just find it odd that they have no problems monetizing Robin Williams' death by featuring all his movies all over the place on iTunes but don't want to do the same here while at the same time giving a big "F-you" to the hackers. I don't want to hear this BS about them not wanting to insult China either. The business partnership is a mutually beneficial one. China wouldn't give a flying flock of flamingos if Apple makes this movie available on iTunes.

 

[KPOM]

It's about time Apple pulled it's head out of it's ass. I just find it odd that they have no problems monetizing Robin Williams' death by featuring all his movies all over the place on iTunes but don't want to do the same here while at the same time giving a big "F-you" to the hackers. I don't want to hear this BS about them not wanting to insult China either. The business partnership is a mutually beneficial one. China wouldn't give a flying flock of flamingos if Apple makes this movie available on iTunes.

Or perhaps the original report was true and they were open to hosting it, but couldn't commit to getting it up and running by Christmas Eve. Amazon and Netflix still don't have it up yet.

 

[kas23]

There truly is a God.
http://recode.net/2014/12/28/apple-starts-streaming-the-interview-too/

Typical ***** move.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

It's about time Apple pulled it's head out of it's ass. I just find it odd that they have no problems monetizing Robin Williams' death by featuring all his movies all over the place on iTunes but don't want to do the same here while at the same time giving a big "F-you" to the hackers. I don't want to hear this BS about them not wanting to insult China either. The business partnership is a mutually beneficial one. China wouldn't give a flying flock of flamingos if Apple makes this movie available on iTunes.

You are so right about that. Show it anyway.

 

[cdmoore74]

Or perhaps the original report was true and they were open to hosting it, but couldn't commit to getting it up and running by Christmas Eve. Amazon and Netflix still don't have it up yet.

More like Apple saw that Google was looking like Captain America and people saw Apple hiding in the corner with it's head between the legs. Or they really came back from vacation on Sunday.
Apple (and the theaters) had a chance to do the right thing and it's too late.

 

[kolax]

Apple (and the theaters) had a chance to do the right thing and it's too late.

The right thing is drop everything and rush to host a movie without much notice? Don't think so. No one said Apple, Amazon or Netflix would never host it, they just weren't able to host it by Christmas eve. Apple closes up shop during xmas, so can't see them rushing to do much.

 

[RebornProphet]

Cult of Mac reporting that it's now available to buy and rent on iTunes.

 

[Tech198]

Cult of Mac reporting that it's now available to buy and rent on iTunes.

Yep,, it there alright I may rent it

 

[kdarling]

The right thing is drop everything and rush to host a movie without much notice? Don't think so. No one said Apple, Amazon or Netflix would never host it, they just weren't able to host it by Christmas eve. Apple closes up shop during xmas, so can't see them rushing to do much.

As I noted up in post #553, it looks like companies had at last a week before Christmas Eve to decide what to do.

iTunes hosts lots of movies. It should take only a very short time to add any new content. After all, that's its purpose.

Wouldn't matter anyway. Anyone who works for large corporations knows that holidays are not an excuse, especially if the CEO wants something done.
.

 

[Soccertess]

Apple changed there mind...

To all those pundits who defended Apple's initial decision to not show it, this must be an interesting turn of events

Apple changed there mind, so I guess many will follow suit...


anyways.. it's a crappy movie..... Just too silly and childish.

 

[Piggie]

To all those pundits who defended Apple's initial decision to not show it, this must be an interesting turn of events

Apple changed there mind, so I guess many will follow suit...


anyways.. it's a crappy movie..... Just too silly and childish.

No No No.

I'm sure all those who have posted in this thread that Apple are correct not to show this via iTunes, will not suddenly change their minds now that Apple are going to show it in iTunes.

I'm certain, all those people will stick to their guns, and say it should not be on iTunes, and now say that Apple are wrong for now allowing it.

 

[2IS]

To all those pundits who defended Apple's initial decision to not show it, this must be an interesting turn of events

Apple changed there mind, so I guess many will follow suit...


anyways.. it's a crappy movie..... Just too silly and childish.

No No No.

I'm sure all those who have posted in this thread that Apple are correct not to show this via iTunes, will not suddenly change their minds now that Apple are going to show it in iTunes.

I'm certain, all those people will stick to their guns, and say it should not be on iTunes, and now say that Apple are wrong for now allowing it.

Chances are they'll just tuck tail and not come back to this thread. That's been my experience with the ADF (Apple Defense Force) I remember when I created a thread criticizing Apple for removing the camera roll from iOS8. The ADF were strong there and in full defense of how removing it was absolutely the right thing to do. Then came the release notes for the next iOS 8 update which brought the camera roll back. I updated the thread with the good news, none of the approx. half dozen ADF members responded.

 

[KPOM]

More like Apple saw that Google was looking like Captain America and people saw Apple hiding in the corner with it's head between the legs. Or they really came back from vacation on Sunday.
Apple (and the theaters) had a chance to do the right thing and it's too late.

Who cares now? It's up there and anyone who wants to download it now has another choice besides Microsoft and Google. I refuse to download anything from Google Play because Eric Schmidt sanctioned the North Korean regime last year by going over there on a state-sponsored trip.

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Chances are they'll just tuck tail and not come back to this thread. That's been my experience with the ADF (Apple Defense Force) I remember when I created a thread criticizing Apple for removing the camera roll from iOS8. The ADF were strong there and in full defense of how removing it was absolutely the right thing to do. Then came the release notes for the next iOS 8 update which brought the camera roll back. I updated the thread with the good news, none of the approx. half dozen ADF members responded.

If Apple is such an evil company as you in the Apple Bashing Crowd say, then why bother posting here? Go buy the Interview from the company whose chairman visited North Korea at Kim Jong Eun's personal invitation last January and be patriotic instead.

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The most likely explanation is that Apple was scheduled to release it on iTunes today before the whole flap began, and that they refused to make a special exception for Sony after they waffled on whether to release it.

 

[cdmoore74]

Chances are they'll just tuck tail and not come back to this thread. That's been my experience with the ADF (Apple Defense Force) I remember when I created a thread criticizing Apple for removing the camera roll from iOS8. The ADF were strong there and in full defense of how removing it was absolutely the right thing to do. Then came the release notes for the next iOS 8 update which brought the camera roll back. I updated the thread with the good news, none of the approx. half dozen ADF members responded.

ADF is just classic! You had a number of ADF here saying that Apple won't release trash, others afraid of terrorist and many saying that Apple was on vacation.
Pretty difficult to defend a coward I guess.
Never let a terrorist dictate what you can and cannot show.

 

[tdale]

Geez, I just came here to see if the movie was on iTunes as mentioned or assumed in another thread, and I see the ADF vs the ABC

1. ABC, go back to your forums to talk about your stuff. your contributions add zero value as they are only based on blind hate emotions about Apple, not fact.

2. ADF, stop bleating, your contributions add zero value as they are only based on blind love emotions about Apple, not fact.

 

[Rogifan]

As I noted up in post #553, it looks like companies had at last a week before Christmas Eve to decide what to do.

iTunes hosts lots of movies. It should take only a very short time to add any new content. After all, that's its purpose.

Wouldn't matter anyway. Anyone who works for large corporations knows that holidays are not an excuse, especially if the CEO wants something done.
.

Clearly Tim Cook didn't think it was important enough to be there on Christmas Day. Critics of Apple say its motivation is all about profits. If that was really the case, Apple would have been the first one to have this movie up, especially if Sony was offering an exclusive. And if it's all about Apple's relationship with China would it really matter if the movie was offered on Christmas Day or 3 days later?

 

[cdmoore74]

Who cares now? It's up there and anyone who wants to download it now has another choice besides Microsoft and Google. I refuse to download anything from Google Play because Eric Schmidt sanctioned the North Korean regime last year by going over there

[/COLOR]The most likely explanation is that Apple was scheduled to release it on iTunes today before the whole flap began, and that they refused to make a special exception for Sony after they waffled on whether to release it.

Hard to believe that Google and Microsoft can make "special exceptions" and Apple cannot. People here brag how much money Apple has yet it has no meaning. Someone dropped the ball and it was Tim Cook. This was a very important moment in film history. Not that the movie was Grammy material but because terrorist was trying to prevent the movie. If the terrorist succeeded anybody could push around movie studio's not to release or modify content.
The only one I saw "waffle" on release day was Apple and major theaters. It was only until Apple noticed that Google had no threats did Apple decide to do the right thing.

 

[TimelessOne]

As I noted up in post #553, it looks like companies had at last a week before Christmas Eve to decide what to do.

iTunes hosts lots of movies. It should take only a very short time to add any new content. After all, that's its purpose.

Wouldn't matter anyway. Anyone who works for large corporations knows that holidays are not an excuse, especially if the CEO wants something done.
.

I think you should change that to anyone who works at a company or small if the CEO/President wants things done the holidays/ vacation is never an excuse.
Heck at a smaller company it is easier to see as you are closer to the CEO. I mean how often are you able to saw you say that your CEO knows you by name and not be at the upper level.

----------

Clearly Tim Cook didn't think it was important enough to be there on Christmas Day. Critics of Apple say its motivation is all about profits. If that was really the case, Apple would have been the first one to have this movie up, especially if Sony was offering an exclusive. And if it's all about Apple's relationship with China would it really matter if the movie was offered on Christmas Day or 3 days later?

that or the potential gains that would be from having it a few days earlier would not be off set by the cost of having an employee or 2 come in and do it as chances are it would have to be compensated by at least a vacation day. Plus any power cost.

So profit wise it might not even be much of a break even as most people are not going to be really be going to a difference source to get them. If you get your stuff from iTunes chances are you are not going to going to go to Google or amazon. Apple TV does not play google movies.