Hollywood Pushing for iTunes to Rent Major Films Just Weeks After They Debut in Theaters

[jonnysods]

Come on..... had you done that in a Deadpool movie it would have been acceptable... but ... the SpongeBob Movie?! There are kids in there!

Spongebob is my fav cartoon, that and Adventures of Gumball!

Jokes aside, I hate the movies, love my house. If they do 4K movies that would be pretty sweet.

 

[laudern]

My pirate sense is tingling with excitement.

 

[Kabeyun]

Pity. I'll miss movie theaters. Not too many of us have a man cave with 10,000 watts, 12 speakers, and a 40-foot screen. Trying to kill them is an interesting strategy. The one near us is already trying to stay alive by rerunning old classics and simulcasting live events, so this might actually work. The price makes sense for families. I for one will miss playing some Galaga and then carrying an absurdly-sized bucket of wonderfully crappy popcorn and never-in-my-house junk food down a hall lined with feature posters and into a big darkened theater filled with anticipation. I remember watching Jedi in the theater and (spoiler alert) the whole crowd roared when the second Death Star bit the dust. Can't get those moments at home. Kids are getting into bowling alleys again, so maybe there's hope that the urge to leave the house for entertainment will keep our movie houses alive too.

 

[tpham5919]

Watching movie at home is convenient but it's not the same as watching it in the theater though. Maybe I'm just old school.

 

[willzyx]

People complaining about $50 for movie rental, but go to movies and pay around $25-30/person including popcorn and drink. For $50, I will rent them without thinking. For one person, $50 is not worth it, but when you have a family and kids, $50 is a steal. I can make my own popcorn and drink my own beer and pause to piss. I'm not much of an audiophile, so as long as I can hear it, I'm fine.

 

[mazz0]

Not all of us are like that.

I know, I was only teasing We Brits don't all have bad teeth. We are all stuck up though.

 

[EightyTwenty]

I'll pay that on heartbeat - 4K first run movie - its a steal - if I take my wife and 2 kids with concessions in NY - you are looking at $100-$180

You know it doesn't come with food, right?
[doublepost=1503108755][/doublepost]

It's not really a bad deal, unless you happen to live in the sticks. Most movie theater tickets at big name or nice theaters run about $14-18 per adult. I don't even live in a big city and that's what tickets cost me. You also have to factor that you typically can't bring your own drinks or food into a theater, so that's more money spent. It adds up quick.

Now you'll be able to have gatherings with friends or family, rent a new movie in 4K, HDR, and whatever else your entertainment system can handle, and watch it from the comfort of your living room while enjoying your own food.

I don't see the down side. Especially at $30, that's almost a steal.

17 day old movie: $50.00
90 day old movie: $4.99

Why the hell would you pay such a premium (literally 10 times the price) just for a movie that is slightly newer? I honestly don't get it at all. It's not like the movie goes bad like milk.

 

[Erik Dercf]

Despite the objections of some cinema chains, the largest Hollywood studios are considering pushing ahead with a plan to offer digital rentals of films just weeks after they appear in theaters, according to Bloomberg.

The report, citing people familiar with the matter, claims Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. remain in talks with potential distributors such as Apple and Comcast on ways to push ahead with the project even without theater chains.

A deal with Apple, which reportedly could happen as soon as early next year, means iTunes could supposedly offer major films as early as 17 days after their theatrical debut for about $50, or four to six weeks from release for $30.

That timeframe would be significantly shorter than the current average of three months between a major film's theatrical release and availability in DVD and digital formats, but it would also cost viewers more than an $8 to $15 movie ticket.

The revenue from the premium video on demand, or PVOD, product would help offset a continuing decline in DVD sales, which were down 10 percent in the first half of 2017, according to research firm The Digital Entertainment Group.

Disney, which plans to remove its movies from Netflix and launch its own streaming service by 2019, reportedly isn't interested in the PVOD talks.

Bloomberg first reported on the discussions in December, when it claimed 21st Century Fox, Universal Pictures, and Warner Bros. were all seeking deals with Apple to create a $25 to $50 premium movie download product.

Article Link: Hollywood Pushing for iTunes to Rent Major Films Just Weeks After They Debut in Theaters

[doublepost=1503111200][/doublepost]I hope movie theaters fight this through measures like a return to having an intermission for movies over 150 minutes. I hope people don't go for this and it fails. I gladly will pay 50 dollars to go out but not to stay in. But on the other hand this could help some companies with their flops. I think this would work if for 30 you can outright buy it in the early time frame they are talking about. Anyway I'm pro movie theater I may not talk to you but we can enjoy a movie together all the same.

 

[kdarling]

If you are going to watch it at home anyway, why would you pay $50? That's stupid. You could just wait 3 months and pay $15 - $20 to own a Blu-ray/Digital Copy or rent it for $6.

Well, as you noted, it's all relative.

Some people can't afford to, or simply refuse to, pay even $3 for an online rental. Yet many do.

Others buy the DVD for $15.

Still others will find $50 -- to be able to watch a current movie in their own home theatre setup --quite reasonable. In fact, this could be a great Dad excuse to buy better equipment "for the family"

Heck, this past summer we spent hundreds taking all the grandkids and family to see the latest movies. A deal like this would be far cheaper and with zero problems driving, parking, etc.

 

[cmaier]

I have a 10’ screen and just dump popcorn on the floor and let soda dry on the floor for stickiness, and it’s just as good as AMC cinemas.
[doublepost=1503114423][/doublepost]

Well, as you noted, it's all relative.

Some people can't afford to, or simply refuse to, pay even $3 for an online rental. Others do.

Others buy the DVD for $15.

Still others will find $50 -- to be able to watch a current movie in their own home theatre setup --quite reasonable. In fact, this could be a great Dad excuse to buy better equipment "for the family"

I’d definitely pay if it were to own the digital copy, not to rent. But there are lots of folks around here who would fork over the cash.

 

[klky]

I enjoy the cinema experience as much as the next person, but the idea of watching new releases at home with all the added comfort and convenience certainly sounds enticing. I suspect this is what will ultimately happen.

As most have concluded, the pricing is relative. The bigger issue is piracy. Whether you offer this at $5 or $50 dollars, it won't matter in the least when it comes to pirates. They could care less about intellectual property or what's ethical or legal. Presumably Hollywood's end game is to make money. If so, they need to solve this, first and foremost, from a technical standpoint. Then they can charge whatever they want albeit at a price point that is generally accepted as good value.

Of course the best way to make money is to simply put out a better product. Too many of the movies today are garbage. Arbitrarily making them all 3D does not make them better.

 

[lke]

I'm happy with the theater to DVD timescales as they are. I just want an all you can eat subscription to the iTunes store for a reasonable price.

All this will do is encourage piracy with super-early WEB-DL's

Exactly, this is one of the worst ideas because pirates will buy only one movie and send it to thousands of users thru private channels in roku and other systems.

The only way to stop piracy is by doing the same as Netflix but with the same new movies that right now you have to buy or rent on itunes.

To give you a better example I have recently view Baywatch, Guardians of the Galaxy 2, Alien Covenant and many more movies that are not currently on iTunes for less than $6.50 dollars per month.
The quality is great and the movies have subtitles.

 

[Fireagle]

I like it. I mean it's to expensive to me. In Berlin a ticket for the movie of the week is 5€. But for movies that are not worth going to the cinema it will shorten the time for nice quality "streams"

 

[doelcm82]

I’d definitely pay if it were to own the digital copy, not to rent. But there are lots of folks around here who would fork over the cash.

Exactly. Some people who are already forking over the cash to see recent movies in theaters will see it as a good alternative.

Maybe movie theaters will compete by including a digital copy in the ticket price, since that might bring in more families who think $50 is too much.

 

[makr]

If you are going to watch it at home anyway, why would you pay $50? That's stupid. You could just wait 3 months and pay $15 - $20 to own a Blu-ray/Digital Copy or rent it for $6.

If producers and Apple are happy with this, I see no point why not have this feature, its up to people whether to use this service.

 

[newdeal]

for a family of 4 to go to a movie is like $80 so this isn't bad but all it will do is make the movie available to pirates even earlier

 

[jeremiah256]

This is just the logical expansion of what many already do for pay per view events. I see it as a good thing (friends and family gathering).

And let’s be honest. The writing is on the wall for theaters. You can get a pretty decent 65” 4K HDR tv for $1000. In five years that money will probably get you much more. Home theater systems, rivaling theaters, is affordable for the middle class.

 

[klrobinson999]

I'm sure they're pricing in the fact that most theater visits are enjoyed in groups, by family or friends. At an average of $11 a ticket, that's over $40 for a family/group of four. Fair pricing or not, no one will hold a gun to anyone's head forcing them to accept the cost.

My interest in the cinema experience has declined thanks to both improvements in home theater picture and sound AND because of the decline of courtesy and civility in the cinema. I'm tired of cell phone glow, constant talking, screaming children at adult-oriented movies, and those unable to take a simple bath before coming out in public. Count me in for this movie rental program NOW.

 

[charlituna]

Here is what you do. Don't buy over priced snacks for $7 a bag. Bring some of your own candy and a soda/water. Parking... you have to pay for parking at your theater? I would recommend a different theater.

good luck with finding anywhere in LA that doesn't make you pay for parking. i'm pretty sure even the DMV does.
[doublepost=1503154601][/doublepost]

Holy Cow! That's insane! We can do a $5.79 matinee WITH power reclining leather seats (AMC). Add two drinks and refill popcorn and for a family of five and we're under $50.

yes but you're in Indiana where folks would never stand for $15 movie tickets. that's the nature of "the market will bear"

 

[Vanilla35]

good luck with finding anywhere in LA that doesn't make you pay for parking. i'm pretty sure even the DMV does.
[doublepost=1503154601][/doublepost]

yes but you're in Indiana where folks would never stand for $15 movie tickets. that's the nature of "the market will bear"

I live in the DMV, most theaters offer validation for parking garages if you purchase a movie ticket, or they're located in a spot with an open lot (mall, etc).

The actual DMV (office for registering vehicles) doesn't charge for parking here either lol.

But I get your point.

 

[mmm1345]

I live in the DMV, most theaters offer validation for parking garages if you purchase a movie ticket, or they're located in a spot with an open lot (mall, etc).

The actual DMV (office for registering vehicles) doesn't charge for parking here either lol.

But I get your point.

I live in the DMV, yes some theaters have validated parking but it's so draconian that if you misjudge the timing by even a minute you can EASILY go from paying $5 to park to $15 - 30, just because a movie started late or you decide you want to grab a quick bite after the movie and it took a few minutes longer than you thought. It's not a "relaxing" and enjoyable experience being under some stupid time limit.

 

[Vanilla35]

I live in the DMV, yes some theaters have validated parking but it's so draconian that if you misjudge the timing by even a minute you can EASILY go from paying $5 to park to $15 - 30, just because a movie started late or you decide you want to grab a quick bite after the movie and it took a few minutes longer than you thought. It's not a "relaxing" and enjoyable experience being under some stupid time limit.

Sounds like a personal problem. I understand wanting to stay out and not have to worry about any time constraint for your parking, but it's still better than paying for parking. I have the same limitation with my gym parking, I have to ensure my workout stays under 2 hours (from when I get in the garage), but it's just time management.

 

[pgwalsh]

$50 will work for some and not others. It would only work for me if I also received a UHD Blu ray disk when there were released. That being said, I almost never need to see a movie right away and I never need to go to the theater since I've built my own.

 

[tgwaste]

Personally I think the best thing they could do for "DVD" sales is allow us to apply the rental fee to the full purchase. If I rent a movie for $6, I should then be able to buy it for $14. I would be much more inclined to that purchase.

 

[NMSUballa]

I'll pay that on heartbeat - 4K first run movie - its a steal - if I take my wife and 2 kids with concessions in NY - you are looking at $100-$180

Dang! What are you buying? Tickets are $9.50-$12 here depending on if you choose a theater with reclining chairs. Then my gf wants popcorn and a drink that is around $10-$12. Both of us spend about $35 combined.