Paramount to shorten time before films are available on demand after theatrical release

According to new reports, Paramount is looking to shorten the time between when a movie is released in theaters and when it is available on demand.

If successful, the studio would like to have all their films available on demand just two weeks after their theatrical debut, showing how important digital downloads, rentals and streaming are to the business.

The studio will release two small films this fall using the shorter window, but it will move its entire schedule to the shorter window over time.

"What other product creates its most attention at launch and then creates a significant period of time where the consumer can't acquire that product?" Rob Moore, Paramount's vice chairman, said of major motion pictures.

The theory is that a shorter window between theater and home release will help lower marketing costs and also put a dent in piracy, which still remains a problem for the studios, especially on blockbuster films that normally do not make it to home media for months after they have left theaters.

Source:
WSJ

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 8 Jul 2015 23:25

bhetrick

Quote: If successful, the studio would like to have all their films available on demand just two weeks after their theatrical debut I remember reading an article awhile back about how the studios take huge percentages of profits (90%?) from the theaters the first 2 weeks (or was it 4 weeks) of a new release.

Sounds like this could finally be the nail in the coffin for them.

9.7.2015 15:10 #1

joebloe12

If they do this, this will be a nod to people telling them for a very LONG TIME that they need to have a short time frame between releases from the theater to DVD or the movie is going to get pirated...I guess they had to find out the hard way! Because if they had of implimented this a lot sooner...say years ago....I do not think piracy would be as high as it is for some releases!

People just do not want the experience of going to a movie theater anymore! High prices...both for the movie and the snacks have driven a lot of people away!

If Paramount does this...a lot of smaller studios should follow suit and this may open up a whole new market for movies. And maybe...just maybe this could become a MODEL for how movies are released at all studios! So I see this as a good thing!

10.7.2015 03:29 #2

Dragon3000

mmmmmmmmm, not sure about this. 2 weeks is so ridiculously short. I'm assuming however that they will continue to have the movie in the cinemas whilst it's released on digital. But I can't see why this would get rid of piracy. In my view the only reason why people pirate movies is because they either can't afford to go to the cinema or they are simply greedy. I can't see an early digital release being cheap either, so piracy will continue anyway.

ZX Spectrum 128K

10.7.2015 08:14 #3

bhetrick

10.7.2015 09:07 #4

SProdigy

Originally posted by bhetrick: I believe that part of their "why people pirate" theory is that some want it now. And I suppose I'd agree with that.
Good example: I wanted to rent Expendables 3 the other night. I had waited quite awhile since it's initial release and it's not on the cable networks yet. So I fire up Amazon, Vudu, etc. only to see it available for SALE at $15+!

My choice are:

- Wait longer for it to come to something like HBO
- Wait longer for it to come to Netflix
- Leave the house and go to a physical video store (can't, alone watching the baby.)

So what choice do I have left? Buy something I don't want to own, for more than the price of a movie ticket, or pirate...

I chose to wait and watch John Wick instead, but that's more or less my fuss with low quality video/audio from many of the pirate copies. Plus, the time to download and hope to find one that's watchable, versus instant gratification via HBO GO or similar services.

I could see others not being so patient, but as said above, some people are just greedy and will steal whatever they'd like. I'm not one of those people.

10.7.2015 17:09 #5

joebloe12

Originally posted by Dragon3000: mmmmmmmmm, not sure about this. 2 weeks is so ridiculously short. I'm assuming however that they will continue to have the movie in the cinemas whilst it's released on digital. But I can't see why this would get rid of piracy. In my view the only reason why people pirate movies is because they either can't afford to go to the cinema or they are simply greedy. I can't see an early digital release being cheap either, so piracy will continue anyway. Why are you worried about how short the timeframe is? I think it is great and it WOULD put a stop to a lot of piracy and no, you are WRONG about why a lot of people pirate the movies and has nothing to do with the reasons you suggest....a lot of it is TIME BETWEEN the theater release and DVD release...which is WAY too long! No one said this will stop all piracy, but I do think it will put a dent in it if the DVD movies are priced decently.

10.7.2015 21:02 #6

g_slide

I think everyone is missing the big picture. They are talking about putting OnDemand so you will still have to pay to see it and the price is not that cheap. I rather wait and rent it for a $1 on RedBox.

10.7.2015 22:20 #7

joebloe12

I do not mind it being "On Demand" as long as I can see it in MY HOME! Not in some movie theater!

By the time it gets on redbox (It takes forever) I will have lost intrest in seeing the movie anyway, so what is the point in that?

11.7.2015 20:54 #8

Jemborg

How's that going to affect their international setup? Movies often come out here in theatres after a digital release overseas.

I wonder if there's any hope they'll release 2K and 4K versions for download/streaming then?

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12.7.2015 10:05 #9

mightyzog

Wouldn't this just give pirates a better copy to put online?? Just askin.

17.7.2015 09:20 #10

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