Paulie, Show Mr. Comcast What We Do to People Who Premiere Theatrical Movies on Cable
by John Paczkowski
Posted on May 15, 2007 at 10:47 AM PT
Comcast’s plan to make movies available on cable TV on the same day that they hit movie theaters appears to be facing an early box-office death. Two of the nation’s largest theater chains–Regal Entertainment Group and National Amusements–have already rejected the idea and said they would refuse to play films offered for
day-and-date distribution to homes. “We’re not interested in playing anything that makes its debut in the home and at the theater at the same time,” Regal CEO Michael Campbell told the Los Angeles Times.
National Amusements President Shari Redstone took similar issue with Comcast’s plan and also vowed not to show any movies that are simultaneously released on cable TV. “It’s the smart thing to do,” she said. “Movies were meant to be seen in the movie theater. … If people do the right thing, you’ll have exhibitors not playing the movies, and studios not doing business with Comcast.” Redstone added that day-and-date video-on-demand distribution of the sort Comcast proposes will ruin a film’s “wow” factor. “What really made the [movie] industry work is when you released a movie in the theater, there was a wow factor,” she said. “As you begin to shrink the window, you take away from that wow factor, and what happens is that people who used to end up seeing a movie a few times, see it once.”
Pardon me for saying it, but “wow” that’s a ridiculous statement given today’s moviegoing experience.
Comments
“but the wow factor to which Redstone refers disappeared years ago in a cloud of in-theater advertising, preshow detritus and lousy character development.”
Amen, amen, and amen.
Posted by Mike Evangelist at May 15th, 2007 at 10:50 ami think the “wow factor” she’s referring to is the shock one feels when they see how much popcorn costs.
Posted by ken ehrman at May 15th, 2007 at 12:31 pmLet’s understand the economics.
Posted by Dave Barnes at May 15th, 2007 at 8:11 pmTheater owners (e.g., Phil Anschutz) don’t really care about the movies as they make no money on them.
All the theatre’s profit comes from selling soda at a 87+% gross margin. And popcorn at a 90+% margin.
“Wow factor” my ass. All Shari cares about is selling candy and popcorn.
Seeing a film on the big screen is a different experience. Yes, I have a home theater but a 61 inch screen isn’t the same as a 61 foot screen. The “wow factor”? Well that is dampened by the clown in the next row taking a mobile phone call.
Posted by Tom Orr at May 16th, 2007 at 4:14 am