So-called "premium" video on demand services, offering early access to studio films, have been rumored since the dawn of time -- or maybe just since
2007 -- but
Reuters says various studios are back in talks with TV operators, including DirecTV and Time Warner, about bringing a couple of theater movies couch-side this fall, as quickly as 30-days after their theatrical release for $50, or $25, 60 days out. We know the precedent has technically already been set by
IFC's day and date HD on demand screenings, but this deal would actually revolve round mainstream titles, as opposed to art house sleepers, and supposedly justify the ridiculous "premium" rates. Hey, the studios have to make up
eroding revenues from Blu-ray / DVD sales someway right? As expression goes though, we'll believe it when we see it, and meanwhile reassure our easily-teased home theaters that
EPIX films on Netflix Watch Instantly are really coming September 1st.
posted August 12th 2010 6:29PM
You have to wonder just who is going to be willing to rent a movie for $50 they don't own?
Remember when prerecorded VHS movies cost $80+? Isn't this exactly why the pay to rent pricing scheme died out to begin with?
@Wag U Win.
ZZZAAAOOOZZZAAA !!!!!
they gotta stop calling everything "premium" it's getting old
@Wag Do these morons know that we are still in a recession. Who the hell is going to burn $50 on a movie that's a month old! Just a complete and utter FAIL!
@Wag
Look on the bright side, HD torrents will be out sooner!!!!
@Wag : I already have that service. :)
this will give piracy a nice boost, no more bad camera releases
the 50 is pricey, but the 25 is fair.. If 3 people are going to the movies, you can pay the same price, and watch it at home.. Sure the screen is smaller, but the seats are comfier, and the food is alot better.
@Wag
Agreed. $50 is rediculous! If they are charging that much, it will just encourage people to record the streams and pirate it.
@Wag People do it every week with a family of 4 kids, it's called going to the movies. Now, if you have a home theater and can get together your favorite drinking and smoking buddies for a night, it won't be the worst $50 you ever spent, but I do think it is a rip off. Really, the worst part is that you have to wait 30 days for this "convenience". $50 instant, $30 for 30 day delay seems *almost* reasonable.
If you think about it, a big pay-per-view event, such as MMA/Boxing, can go for $50+, then they sell tickets at theaters for about $10...this follows that trend.
@camerafan
i'd rather give that money to homeless person than pay that much to rent a dam movie when its 1/3 of price when it comes out in another month
FIST
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@androidfan1
FAIL
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Wrist watch
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@metanup
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*Stows wand in jacket*
Then they'll sue you when you start hosting parties and splitting the cost amongst friends.
Even if you have a 100 inch screen (which probably fills your entire wall) you won't have the same experience as in the Cinema. Unless (as people have mentioned) you invite round 4/5 friends and ask them to pay then it really doesn't seem economical either, unless you live in the middle of nowhere, and yet still have pretty decent broadband access.
I will stick to my 120-days after $1.50 Redbox Bluray !!!
No thanks, I can wait. Ill continue to rent it for 78 cents at redbox (after chase freedom cashback) or if I'm lucky, I will have a free code that day.
Then there is netflix.....
I was at a hotel, I forget where, but it had movies that were in the theaters already on demand in the room.
I want a Blu-ray disc day & date with theatrical.
Who is going to pay $50 for a movie? I might pay 8.00 to watch a movie that is in theaters with out the wait..
@mannydigital
Maybe a kids' birthday party? At least you wouldn't have to pay outlandish prices for all those drinks, candy and popcorn at the concession stand.
I dunno. I don't think I'd ever pay that. I have a 50" plasma, but it's minuscule compared to a movie screen. I don't even want to pay $4 for an Amazon movie On Demand when Netflix or Redbox suits me just fine.
@mannydigital
My local theater is $10.50 for adults and $7.50 for kids (and that is one of the cheaper ones). A family of 5 (2 adults, 3 kids) would be $43.50 before candy/soda/popcorn etc. I agree that $50 is a pretty shocking up front price. But looking at the numbers, it actually might make sense for families.
@scyber well smaller screen, DRM, but you can stay on your sofa idk.. most people have less than 3 kids or many have no kids :P
Does that mean the torrents will be out the same day too? Just sayin....
Torrents same day?
LOL at people watching TV of other people watching TV of people on a couch
LOL wtf
@infamous1
lol did engadget chopped that pic?
I'll be more interested when they drop the price to $15 per movie with on-demand replays included. I already live on a delayed movie schedule -- waiting for the DVD or HBO rather than spend $50 at the theater. Works for me.
my neighborhood cinema in NYC has movies for $5 and $7.50. beat that, $50 rentals!
This might be the perfect deal for the Octomom or Jon & Kate +8
No deal.
Movies that are still in theaters (or still in that release window) are available in hotels for the same price of a ticket to a theater.
They have to stop being greedy. That they charge so much for "convenience" is testament to how poor the theater experience is.
So....30 days after release pirates will put a near-perfect digital rip onto the internet then? This plan is filled with so much fail starting with the $50 price (which makes it all the more likely people will just pirate instead of paying a reasonable price).
I love that photo on the right (of the couple watching a family watch a family)
..... as 30-days after their theatrical release for $50, or $25, 60 days out.
This is could be good value for a family of four.
Not so much for individuals or even couples.
An Epson 8100 front projector is around $1200.
If you add that and a screen to your home, paying $25 to $50 for 4 people to watch a REAL first run movie (like Ironman 2 or Harry Potter) would soon become very enticing for some people.
BTW, to those of you complaining, why? This takes nothing away from YOU and adds something I think more than a few people would enjoy.