Physical & Digital EST: The Future of Home Video Discussion Thread

[sapiendut]

Which friend is this. We have too many friends like this.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

Which friend is this. We have too many friends like this.

SCLee

[sapiendut]

Always the same people.

Btw, how’s Amazon Prime movie selection for you guys? In Canada it sux ballz. Mostly B movies or weird selection. The have movies that has part 1 and 3 but no part 2. Or they have TV series (say) seasons 5 and 7 but don’t have the rest.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

Always the same people.

Btw, how’s Amazon Prime movie selection for you guys? In Canada it sux ballz. Mostly B movies or weird selection. The have movies that has part 1 and 3 but no part 2. Or they have TV series (say) seasons 5 and 7 but don’t have the rest.

Amazon Prime offers a good selection here in the U.S., which is why I complain about their streaming issues as much as I do. I would use them more often if their streaming quality was consistent, but it is always a complete crap shoot with them.

[JohnAV]

Need to change the chat room mentality here.

AMC Theatres Refuses to Play Universal Films in Wake of 'Trolls World Tour' - Hollywood Reporter. 4/28/2020

AMC Theatres on Tuesday delivered a blistering message to Universal Pictures, saying the world's largest cinema chain will no longer play any of the studio's films in the wake of comments made by NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell regarding the on-demand success of Trolls World Tour and what it means for the future of moviegoing post-coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier in the day, Universal revealed that Trolls World Tour racked up an estimated $100 million in premium VOD rentals in its first three weeks in North America, more than enough to put the film on the road to profitability, according to the conglomerate. That's not far behind the $116 million grossed by the original Trolls in its first three weeks at the 2016 domestic box office on its way to topping out at $153.7 million in the U.S. and Canada and nearly $347 million globally, not adjusted for inflation.

Universal sent the animated family film straight to PVOD amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and widespread theater closures.

"The results for Trolls World Tour have exceeded our expectations and demonstrated the viability of PVOD," Shell told The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the numbers. "As soon as theaters reopen, we expect to release movies on both formats."

In a strongly worded letter to Universal Filmed Entertainment Group chairman Donna Langley, AMC Theatres chair-CEO Adam Aron said Shell's comments were unacceptable. AMC is the largest circuit in the world.

"It is disappointing to us, but Jeff’s comments as to Universal’s unilateral actions and intentions have left us with no choice. Therefore, effectively immediately AMC will no longer play any Universal movies in any of our theaters in the United States, Europe or the Middle East," Aron wrote.

Cinema owners have said they understand why some movies may need to go straight to home entertainment, but Shell's comments struck a nerve. "Universal has taken the first step toward changing the paradigm," says a studio executive at another company, noting that film distributors have have wanted to test early PVOD for years.

So you're taking about banning, is this right for AMC to have a temper tantrum and ban Universal from trying to survive when it uses PVOD?

Does this tilt the physical versus streaming model at all?

[sapiendut]

Having rented those day and date movies, at $20 I don’t want to pay for HD and 5.1. Charge me $30 but in 4K and Atmos I’do go for that instead of going to movie theatres (the good ones in Canada is $27 per person)

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Need to change the chat room mentality here.

AMC Theatres Refuses to Play Universal Films in Wake of 'Trolls World Tour' - Hollywood Reporter. 4/28/2020



So you're taking about banning, is this right for AMC to have a temper tantrum and ban Universal from trying to survive when it uses PVOD?

Does this tilt the physical versus streaming model at all?

It was the right move from AMC imo. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you, they could end up regretting it.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

Having rented those day and date movies, at $20 I don’t want to pay for HD and 5.1. Charge me $30 but in 4K and Atmos I’do go for that instead of going to movie theatres (the good ones in Canada is $27 per person)

If there were more of the dine and watch types of movie theaters where patrons can be served food/drinks while watching content on a very large flat panel screens combined with dolby speaker arrays, it could change things up quite a bit. The theaters with the rows and rows of chairs with the usual huge screen and digital projector may be too vulnerable to something like this? We have theaters like that locally. Seem to be more of an urban perk. But they offer the advantage of giving you a lot more then the PVOD and can encompass social distancing.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

It was the right move from AMC imo. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you, they could end up regretting it.

Theater chains are only middle ground, between studios and consumers. Consumers could say the same with the theater chain not showing a studios films, that they go elsewhere. It could get very bad for them.

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

It was the right move from AMC imo. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you, they could end up regretting it.

How so? Could Universal survive without their movies being shown in theaters? AFAIK, sure they could. Can AMC survive with no movies being shown in their theaters? Nope - out of business in a very short time.

NATO is just PO'd that they are losing their strangle hold on the studios. Yet to come is the Justice Dept.'s effort to set aside the Paramount Consent Decree which would open the gates for studios to once again own their own theaters.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Need to change the chat room mentality here.

AMC Theatres Refuses to Play Universal Films in Wake of 'Trolls World Tour' - Hollywood Reporter. 4/28/2020

So you're taking about banning, is this right for AMC to have a temper tantrum and ban Universal from trying to survive when it uses PVOD?

Does this tilt the physical versus streaming model at all?

It sounds like a negotiating tactic is all; if it gets AMC a better deal, then it is a successful ploy. If it turns out to bite them in the arse, then, nope, it wasn't.

It won't affect how I buy content either way.

[Ender14]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Need to change the chat room mentality here.

AMC Theatres Refuses to Play Universal Films in Wake of 'Trolls World Tour' - Hollywood Reporter. 4/28/2020



So you're taking about banning, is this right for AMC to have a temper tantrum and ban Universal from trying to survive when it uses PVOD?

Does this tilt the physical versus streaming model at all?

As a big proponent of the theatrical experience I don't blame AMC at all. In the past the studios have worked out deals with NATO and exhibitors to alter release windows for certain reasons. In this instance Universal just made a statement in the press without notifying NATO and the theater chains.

I know some of you think that is their right, but without theaters Universal would have been hard pressed to make nearly the amount of money they did prior to the streaming option. They depended on the theaters and now that they don't they made a bad faith call to cut them out of the process.

I still believe the result of Trolls World Tour are an anomaly due to the current conditions. I don't think it would have made nearly that much as a streaming only option had a quarantine not been in place. Hopefully they will find out the hard way.

I'm still rather amazed that self-professed lovers of movies often deride the theatrical experience. I love owning my movies but have missed the movie going experience this past 1.5 months more than I could have imagined. It is the longest I have gone without going to a movie theater since I was old enough to go. I understand that some people don't, but to actively wish for the demise of theaters is just petty.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by Vilya

It sounds like a negotiating tactic is all; if it gets AMC a better deal, then it is a successful ploy. If it turns out to bite them in the arse, then, nope, it wasn't.

There is a follow up to this today:

Coronavirus: Odeon-owner bans Universal films in Trolls home movie row - BBC

The owner of Odeon Cinemas has banned all Universal films after the studio said it will release new movies at home and on the big screen on the same day.

AMC boss Adam Aron said the ban will cover its 1,000 cinemas worldwide.

It follows comments from NBCUniversal which said the film Trolls World Tour had performed well despite only being available on streaming services.

The move is damaging to cinemas as it will make it less likely people will visit a public screening.

The children's film is reported to have generated sales of nearly $100m.

Trolls World Tour was scheduled for release in cinemas at the beginning of April.

However, with cinemas currently closed because of the Covid-19 lockdown, it was offered as a Premium Video on Demand (PVOD) on streaming platforms such as Apple TV.

Jeff Shell, president and chief executive of NBCUniversal, parent company of the film studio, told the Wall Street Journal the film had "exceeded our expectations and demonstrated the viability" of streaming.

"As soon as theatres reopen, we expect to release movies on both formats," he said.

But in a letter to Universal Studios' chair Donna Langley, Mr Aron accused the studio of trying to "have its cake and eat it too".

He said: "AMC believes that with this proposed action to go to the home and theatres simultaneously, Universal is breaking the business model and dealings between our two companies."

He added: "Going forward, AMC will not license any Universal movies in any of our 1,000 theatres globally on these terms."

John Fithian, chief executive of the National Association of Theatre Owners, accused the film company of using the pandemic to alter the existing release structure.

"Universal does not have reason to use unusual circumstances in an unprecedented environment as a springboard to bypass true theatrical releases," he said.

It has already been announced that another Universal film - The King of Staten Island - will have its premier on video on demand in June.

But there are a number of other major Universal movie releases which had been planned to be shown in cinemas later this year, including the next instalment of The Purge horror movie franchise.

Mr Aron said the ban could be extended to other studios if they chose to go down the same route as Universal.

Though he said: "Universal is the only studio contemplating a wholesale change to the status quo."

If AMC is threatening to ban more studios if they go PVOD, then that could be the end of AMC in a sense. A side product of this is the studios issuing more physical media to shore up their revenue. Consumers might again more open to home theater sales again.

[Ender14]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

There is a follow up to this today:

Coronavirus: Odeon-owner bans Universal films in Trolls home movie row - BBC



If AMC is threatening to ban more studios if they go PVOD, then that could be the end of AMC in a sense. A side product of this is the studios issuing more physical media to shore up their revenue. Consumers might again more open to home theater sales again.

On the flip side, the other theater chains could stand by AMC and do the same thing which would force Universal to the bargaining table. That would be the smart thing for NATO to suggest to its members.

I used to be a manager for AMC Theaters many years ago and stated then that if the various exhibitor companies would band together they could force better terms from the studios. As it stands now they make almost nothing off the movies. That's why concession prices are so high. If they could take this opportunity to force better terms from the studios it would benefit everyone. Well, except the studios.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

There is a follow up to this today:

Coronavirus: Odeon-owner bans Universal films in Trolls home movie row - BBC



If AMC is threatening to ban more studios if they go PVOD, then that could be the end of AMC in a sense. A side product of this is the studios issuing more physical media to shore up their revenue. Consumers might again more open to home theater sales again.

I think AMC was over 6 weeks ago they just didn't get the memo yet.

Of all the things people want to get back to a theater is not one of them.

[Ender14]

Originally Posted by bhampton

I think AMC was over 6 weeks ago they just didn't get the memo yet.

Of all the things people want to get back to a theater is not one of them.

That's not true for me. That is the one thing I most look forward to getting back to.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by bhampton

I think AMC was over 6 weeks ago they just didn't get the memo yet.

Of all the things people want to get back to a theater is not one of them.

One of things I just don't want to see happen is consumers get stuck with delayed movie content because AMC is sitting on the sidelines during COVID-19, incapable of being involved with entertaining consumers, versus NBC Universal trying to appease these same consumers with some new entertainment on a limited PVOD release as a work around. We also know that PVOD can be profitable but not as much as thousands of cinemas that service all those people without any decent TV or Home theater setup. That is just something you cannot ignore!

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Theater chains are only middle ground, between studios and consumers. Consumers could say the same with the theater chain not showing a studios films, that they go elsewhere. It could get very bad for them.

It would be bad for all of us, not just them.

I will discuss this further with you another time. Developed a headache over last half hour. I have got plenty to say but not right now.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Ender14

That's not true for me. That is the one thing I most look forward to getting back to.

Me too. I love my HT but would miss the cinema.

[Ender14]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

It would be bad for all of us, not just them.

I will discuss this further with you another time. Developed a headache over last half hour. I have got plenty to say but not right now.

Hope you feel better.