DVDs Released With Cinema Screenings?

Hollywood executives think DVDs should be released quicker to combat
the growing threat of piracy, according to the Hollywood Reporter. And
they predict that the day may not be far off when some major films are
available on DVD at the same time as their theatrical release.

"Your premiere may be at Wal-Mart," said Barry Meyer, chairman and
chief executive of Warner Bros Entertainment.

In some territories movies make more money on DVD than in cinemas, he
added.

"Right now theatrical is the main way we set values in these movies,
and video is the first aftermarket," Mr Meyer said during a discussion
held as part of the Milken Institute Global Conference on Wednesday.

"It might well be in certain territories it should be exactly the
reverse - that theatrical is the added value."

Mr Meyer related how camcorder copies of Harry Potter and the Chamber
of Secrets were being sold outside a multiplex in Shanghai on the same
day the film opened there.

"The day you have a public performance of a movie anywhere in the
world, you can count on the fact there will be a physical product on
the streets of Asia, Eastern Europe (and) Russia within a few days,"
he continued.

His sentiments were endorsed by Michael Lynton, chairman and CEO of
Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Peter Chernin, chairman and CEO of
the Fox Group.

Mr Lynton said many would-be filmgoers preferred to wait for titles to
be released on DVD instead of spending more money to see them in
cinemas.

"Where piracy tends to thrive is where the consumer perceives that
goods and services are not convenient and price is out of whack,"
added Mr Chernin.

'Sophie's Choice'
According to the Hollywood Reporter, box office revenue in the US hit
a record $9.5bn (£4.9bn) last year.

However, that figure was dwarfed by the estimated $24.5 billion
(£12.7bn) in DVD and video rental and retail sales.

"If you force the industry to make a Sophie's Choice between
theatrical and DVD and video, it's not a big question which way the
industry will go," said Mr Chernin.

His comments refer to the 1982 film in which Meryl Streep's character
is forced to surrender one of her two children to the Nazis.

The cost of DVDs was also debated, with Hilary Rosen - former chief
executive of the Recording Industry of America (RIAA) - sounding a
cautionary note.

"Fourteen bucks (£7) might sound like a great price for a DVD, but
with 30 million movies being downloaded a month it's not going to be
that great a price," she said.






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Allan

"Allan" wrote in alt.video.dvd:
>Hollywood executives think DVDs should be released quicker to combat
>the growing threat of piracy, according to the Hollywood Reporter. And
>they predict that the day may not be far off when some major films are
>available on DVD at the same time as their theatrical release.

It might be smart marketing to sell them in the theater lobby, to
ticketholders only.

--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA
http://OakRoadSystems.com/
DVD FAQ: http://dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html
other FAQs: http://oakroadsystems.com/genl/faqget.htm

Stan Brown

And the US will be the last place this happens, guaranteed. I don't so
much care about movies, but I would like to see TV shows released in
June, right after their seasons end. Waiting just ****es me off. When
I was a kid, and nothing at all was fast, it was no big deal, but now,
I want things as fast as my internet service.

You hear me Hollywood?!?! Right. Damn. Now!!!

-beaumon

lorincantrell@yahoo.com

In article <>,
Allan <> wrote:
>Hollywood executives think DVDs should be released quicker to combat
>the growing threat of piracy, according to the Hollywood Reporter. And
>they predict that the day may not be far off when some major films are
>available on DVD at the same time as their theatrical release.

One thing about quick DVD releases is they can capitalize on all
the promotion for the country-wide opening of a current film to
help sell the DVD's while it's still in the minds of the viewers -
most of whom don't go to see it on the screen. That makes the
advertising dollars go much further.


>"Your premiere may be at Wal-Mart," said Barry Meyer, chairman and
>chief executive of Warner Bros Entertainment.

Just like some of the Disney 'video only' "films".

Bill
--
Bill Vermillion - bv @ wjv . com

Bill Vermillion