Distributor Contacts/Help with improving iTunes Content

[Film13]

Hello,

Note for quick response to issues with Lionsgate package or digital films, the Customer Care email is help@movieredeem.com

[vonDubenshire]

Originally Posted by OneQuestionMan

All the big distributors give this response and I can never tell if it is policy to pass the buck or that one agents lack of understanding of the industry.

However at Sony customer support is answering again after a ninth or more of silence. Hopefully Warner Bros. I’m will start again too.

I will trying sending my complaint to Sony again. Hopefully a better agent will see it.

Anyone getting success lately?

[vonDubenshire]

Originally Posted by lgans316

FYI:


Drag Me to Hell - Unrated not available in the UK store - US distributor is Lionsgate

Ever get in touch with Lionsgate?

[FilmMan85]

Originally Posted by vonDubenshire

Anyone getting success lately?

I’ve emailed distributors recently about old movies (pre-1970) buy I haven’t had even an automated response in months.

I will try resending some the emails at the weekend.

[vonDubenshire]

I received emails from LionsGate that they would add the 4K editions of movies I requested within a week. It's been over a week, haven't had a chance to check yet but I will update tomorrow AM.

Also, I need to contact Sony now---"The Holiday" is on 4K in iTunes and Amazon Prime, but not on Microsoft or GoogleTV.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/th...ay/id271282883

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/th...%3aoverviewtab

https://www.amazon.com/Holiday-4K-UH.../dp/B00SG7HW64

Sony is usually good on that.

[FilmMan85]

Originally Posted by vonDubenshire

I received emails from LionsGate that they would add the 4K editions of movies I requested within a week. It's been over a week, haven't had a chance to check yet but I will update tomorrow AM.

Also, I need to contact Sony now---"The Holiday" is on 4K in iTunes and Amazon Prime, but not on Microsoft or GoogleTV.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/th...ay/id271282883

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/th...%3aoverviewtab

https://www.amazon.com/Holiday-4K-UH.../dp/B00SG7HW64

Sony is usually good on that.

I have a long list of movies that I was regularly emailing distributors about it the lack of response from the big studios has worn me down.

[vonDubenshire]

Originally Posted by FilmMan85

I have a long list of movies that I was regularly emailing distributors about it the lack of response from the big studios has worn me down.

I sent LionsGate an e-mail about two old movies that I have tried to get 4K-updated for Google Play before. Here is my e-mail and the reply:

TO: lionsgateshop@orderassistance.com, lghecs@lionsgate.com

Hi

How can I purchase 4K UHD version of Lord of War? It's in 4K UHD on Vudu, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, BUT I cannot purchase it for 4K on YouTube and Google Play.

Can you guys fix that?

https://play.google.com/store/movies...id=mkzgo1mj4Pg

https://play.google.com/store/movies...=kkuzeQgCQdY.P

I need it in Google but I see all other services have 4k

* https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/kn...09/id705800830
* https://www.amazon.com/Knowing-4K-UH.../dp/B07WZVJB14

Reply I received from LionsGate was in two e-mails. One was a Zendesk ticket (though they don't tell you it's Zendesk) that they have, the second e-mail is from a guy who is an account representative at LionsGate, should I post his e-mail\name?

Anyway:

From LionsGate Zendesk support:

Lions Gate Customer Support <help@movieredeem.com>

##- Please type your reply above this line -##
Your request (20768) has been updated. To add additional comments, reply to this email.

Support (Lionsgate Entertainment)

Nov 11, 2021, 4:29 PM PST

Hello,

Thanks for reaching out to us! We appreciate your feedback and will pass this along to the appropriate parties for consideration.

Best,
Support Group

Here is the second e-mail, from the above referenced individual's work e-mail at LionsGate:

person__@lionsgate.com reply to me

Hello (VonDubenshire),

We expect Google Play UHD availability for both titles by next week. If you are still unable to purchase with Google Play, please email me back to check on it for you.

Thank you

I replied back today with time to actually glance at all this:

from me, to the individual above:

Thank you for the response! I have not had time to reply but I really appreciate getting an answer back. I checked the two links and noticed the Lord of War one is not purchasable anymore by other Google accounts (the one I own), but there is a 4K edition available for purchase now. Thank you!!!

I do not see a Knowing 4K edition to purchase anywhere on Google Play, though.

I also noticed that several movies featuring Nic Cage have his name spelt two ways, leading to different search results for people:

"Nicholas Cage" and "Nicolas Cage" (proper spelling).

Last - did LionsGate produce Dredd from 2012? I own it on Google Play but I noticed everyone else has an UHD 4K version while I am not able to view that on Google Play.

The frustration on some of the movie forums with getting minor things "fixed" is really tedious when no one has reached out to try to see how to find these solutions for little fixes that matter to a lot of people. Anything I can do that makes reporting any issues easier for LionsGate?

Thanks so much for your help.

[FilmMan85]

[Show spoiler]

Originally Posted by vonDubenshire

I sent LionsGate an e-mail about two old movies that I have tried to get 4K-updated for Google Play before. Here is my e-mail and the reply:



Reply I received from LionsGate was in two e-mails. One was a Zendesk ticket (though they don't tell you it's Zendesk) that they have, the second e-mail is from a guy who is an account representative at LionsGate, should I post his e-mail\name?

Anyway:



Here is the second e-mail, from the above referenced individual's work e-mail at LionsGate:



I replied back today with time to actually glance at all this:

I have on occasion encounter a representative who is helpful like this but usually from much smaller distributors but it is those much smaller distributors who don’t members to be contacted very often.

When I say “old movies” I’m talking much Oder than Lord of War - Jimmy Stewart , Randolph Scott, etc.

Hope this one works for you though - let us know what happens

[vonDubenshire]

Originally Posted by FilmMan85

[Show spoiler]

I have on occasion encounter a representative who is helpful like this but usually from much smaller distributors but it is those much smaller distributors who don’t members to be contacted very often.

When I say “old movies” I’m talking much Oder than Lord of War - Jimmy Stewart , Randolph Scott, etc.

Hope this one works for you though - let us know what happens

Yeah -- I know what you mean.

So here's my update I received the other day, and I am gonna try Google now:

Knowing in 4K UHD is one of those movies I have been wanting to acquire but since it is not a MoviesAnywhere-affiliated studio (LionsGate), I try to keep my non-MA purchases only on Google Play \ GoogleTV because I have a family library that is shared with friends\family as well.

The one thing I get annoyed at is some studios do not update their older-ish movies to 4K when they appear to do the same to every other service.

When some aren't digitally on 4K for purchase on several platforms, I know there may be rights\distribution deals in place, but I see less and less of it that sounds reasonable as an excuse.

I've been in contact with LionsGate with an account manager who has helped me get Lord of War put on 4K UHD in Google Play, but he can confirm he CANNOT help with Knowing in 4K.

This is where I am about to see what I can do to get in touch with a knowledgeable Google person -- I have a lot of leeway with Google and know how to get to their top tier people if I have enough time, it's just not worth it unless I know I have something like this to push back on.

Hope I learn something.

Here was my last e-mail exchange with the LionsGate guy:

If you want to read my original e-mail and info to get started on learning some more about distributor contacts for iTunes, Amazon, Google etc, I joined and posted a lot here in this topic:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...&postcount=147

Anyway, just letting anyone know who may be wondering.

[vonDubenshire]

Interesting thing I found before I have a long chat with Google to escalate to find out the real "who's responsible for what" discussion, which I may try to do with Microsoft or Vudu in the next few months, too:

https://hd-report.com/google-play-4k...ies-tv-titles/

This website is usually very accurate -- but I am interested in how they list "Knowing (2009)" as available in 4K HDR on Google Play, when I cannot find any way to purchase it. I know "multiple listings" happen on all services with un-buyable editions that may be stuck in HD, or already be 4K, but I know how to find those IDs with a little work -- no such thing exists here, so it's clearly a Google mistake.

But where does HD-Report get their information? I am wondering if they have a way to pull that info that I am not aware of since LionsGate has informed me they've provided UHD info to Google Play.

Time to ask them, too!

[b]EDIT[b]: I bet Google has messed up something with more than one movie if this list was accurate in 2019, I just saw at the bottom of that HD Report site:

"Copyright HD Report. Content may not be used without permission. Last updated July 6, 2019. Are we missing any titles? Please let us know in the comments below or via Twitter. Thank you!"

EDIT 2: I have reached out to HD-Report from their contact info on their Facebook page, they list a phone number\email\Messenger availability. I put it in an e-mail but if I receive no response I know their social media is active and will attempt that way next to see what we can learn.

[vonDubenshire]

I got Knowing and Lord of War updated to 4K on Google Play (LionsGate).

New listing for purchase instead of adding to previous ID:

• New Lord of War: https://play.google.com/store/movies...=zaQLF8nhuvU.P
• Old Lord of War: https://play.google.com/store/movies...id=mkzgo1mj4Pg

Knowing, on the other hand, was updated on it's normal listing.

• https://play.google.com/store/movies...=kkuzeQgCQdY.P

[-Gonzo-]

I’ve just sent Studiocanal UK an email enquiring about Dr Who and the Daleks as it’s still only HD even though the ATV app shows as being 4K Dolby Vision, they’ll more than likely palm me off to iTunes but thought it worth a try.
Here’s the contact address if anyone else wants to do the same
info.scuk@studiocanal.com

[XanderAE]

Originally Posted by -Gonzo-

I’ve just sent Studiocanal UK an email enquiring about Dr Who and the Daleks as it’s still only HD even though the ATV app shows as being 4K Dolby Vision, they’ll more than likely palm me off to iTunes but thought it worth a try.
Here’s the contact address if anyone else wants to do the same
info.scuk@studiocanal.com

Done Gonzo! Here's hoping they can make the 4K DV version available.

[-Gonzo-]

Originally Posted by XanderAE

Done Gonzo! Here's hoping they can make the 4K DV version available.

I’ve also asked via Twitter as noticed they occasionally reply to questions, one was most recently about Dr Who.

[Secondhand]

Originally Posted by -Gonzo-

I’ve just sent Studiocanal UK an email enquiring about Dr Who and the Daleks as it’s still only HD even though the ATV app shows as being 4K Dolby Vision, they’ll more than likely palm me off to iTunes but thought it worth a try.
Here’s the contact address if anyone else wants to do the same
info.scuk@studiocanal.com

Studio Canal U.K. have great customer support.

They won’t pass the buck to iTunes unless it really is something Apple is responsible for.

[vonDubenshire]

My Grinch with Jim Carrey was purchased in 4k. Now I see only two entries on the Play website and got TV. Both are HD only.

I checked Movies Anywhere and it says I bought the 4k edition on Google!

Time to find some account exec to fix this

[Alan Gordon]

For years, Hallmark has been bad about releasing bundles on VUDU, but not iTunes, but in 2020 and 2021, they released a few on iTunes.

However, in 2022, Hallmark released another Christmas bundle on VUDU, but this time, it did not make it to iTunes.

Does anyone know a good place to contact whoever does the Hallmark Channels' digital releasing?