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The debate over cinema vs home viewing has gathered apace over the last year with many more people choosing to consume their media at home or on streaming platforms rather than at the multiplex. Indeed Napster founder Sean Parker had spoken of his plans to introduce The Screening Room, a proposal for a service that would bring films to homes on the same day as they hit cinemas for $50 a time.
But now it seems that some studios are keen to reduce the time between theatrical and home distribution, with Bloomberg reporting that both Universal Pictures and Warner Bros talking to cinema operators and exhibitors about decreasing the gap to just two weeks. Similarly to Screening Room, films could cost between $25 – $50 but would be streamed through the studio’s own platforms rather than Room.
Warner Bros. head honcho Kevin Tsujihara said: “We’re working with [theater owners] to try and create a new window… But regardless of whether it happens or not — whether we are able to reach that agreement with them, we have to offer consumers more choices earlier.”
You would imagine cinemas would be against the proposals given how they would be affected by such a service, particularly as the time between cinema and home entertainment releases have decreased exponentially over the years. Indeed most studios themselves rely on the cinema box office to make their money and it’s hard to see how they would continue to do so if the model changed. For audiences, however, watching a film at home rather than shelling out for a trip to the cinema would certainly have some benefits for them and would perhaps save them money in the long run.
It’s sure to be a debate that rages on for a little while yet but it seems film consumption is going to change at some point in the near future. What do you think: is the cinema experience worth paying for, or would you prefer to sit at home and watch the latest releases?
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Release windows were created by production companies, film studios, and film distributors so that the viewing of films could be enjoyed the way they were intended, in large format movie theatres. Release windows are the very essence of the movie theatre industry, and are not the reason that the sale of DVD’s have declined.
The sale of dvd’s is very much akin to the sale of physical novels and books, declining to the point of non-existence:: no one wants to buy the physical discs because streaming, and downloading films is so much easier and convenient. Most of the households, and individuals that can afford to own a DVD have access to cable, the internet and/or Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, etc.; they do not need, and are not going to bother purchasing physical dvd’s, that cannot be played on their iPads, tablets, or mobile devices. It is akin to the trend of (almost) no one buying records anymore, because listening from your phone is immeniently easier.
Release windows protect the integrity of films, sets them apart from mass produced television, exhibits films the way their creators intended, fosters commerce and social interaction. The mass release of feature films directly to home viewing will have an unintended global consequence: the entire motion picture industry will be devalued, placing films in the category of sit-coms, and tv dramas, and soap opera’s.