Posted Mon Jun 24, 2013 at 10:30 AM PDT by Brian Hoss
The trial has included 'Django Unchained,' 'Wreck-It-Ralph,' and 'Brave.'
According to the Wall Street Journal and the Verge, Sony and Disney are the first US studios to attempt day-and-date on-demand offerings for movies on their theater release date.
The cited examples, 'Django Unchained,' 'Wreck-It-Ralph,' and 'Brave' have been part of a new on-demand service in Korea. The service, which is described as part of a trial, has been available through cable, internet, and satellite TV offerings. The entire endeavor is part of move to curb loses due to film piracy. Naturally, the hope is that if studios like Sony and Disney can see the logic of offering new releases at home in one market, the why not others.
Such a strategy would of course be seen as a threat to movie theaters. Disney has run into resistance before with Tim Burton's 'Alice in Wonderland.' By shortening the theater to home video release window from 17 weeks to 12 weeks, several theater chains in Europe threatened to bypass showing the movie entirely.
With nine digit box office numbers routinely targeted by studios, theater chains will continue to flex their position in the media delivery system. But should the day come when more money could be made by studios targeting the home directly, it may start with one or two before all studios make the jump.
Source: The Verge
Author: Brian Hoss
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