"Video Killed the Radio Star, Simultaneous Distribution Killed American Theaters"Comcast found itself in the corner fighting for an idea that could further a billion dollar industry. This idea of allowing cable providers to charge $29.95 to $49.95 to watch an opening-day movie at home was quickly rejected by exhibitors who consider the shrinking theatrical window of exclusivity one of the biggest threats to their health. (Friedman, 2007) Although Comcast tried to show the benefits of this simultaneous distribution, I do not agree with the release of movies in the home on the same day of the release in theaters. We will discuss these new methods of distribution and how they may affect the product but also the market. I will show the cause-and-effect with this conceptual idea and finally discuss alternative methods for cable providers and satellite providers.
With Comcast now allowing release of movies to Theater, DVD and on Demand Cable, the distribution methods have increased exponentially but so has the ability to pirate a movie.
English: Kodiak islands movie theater.."Another on...
Video Killed the Radio Star
English: AMC Theatres Promenade 16, a 16-auditoriu...The overall design is to reduce costs and deter pirates, but I feel this could only increase pirating quality as they will be receiving digitally produced copies of the film directly into homes and their digitally capturing equipment. Another problem they seem to be overlooking is the loss of money to the major movie theater chains and the 250,000 employees. Although the companies may reduce the cost in producing and distributing film they have also formed a new problem, theaters having to close due to the lack of customers.
Family owned Theaters who provided excellent entertainment to families were closing all over America when the majority of families stayed at home with the introduction to television. Recently Odessa, a small town in Texas, suffered the affects of changes in distribution. All of the...