DISQUS

webomatica · 1 year ago

This is a great idea, but I don't think it's likely in the near term, because the studios own the content and this idea would pretty much crater their bread and butter - movie theater ticket sales, and then DVDs.

I also think if the studios agreed to this model they would simultaneously offer movies via on demand cable and DVD sales the same day as a movie hit theaters. I doubt they would let Apple take the whole pie.

Robert Seidman · 1 year ago

You'll wind up seeing what you want -- just not when you want it. Always the way, huh? The movie business, like television has a lot of legacy thinking that gets in the way. All you need to do is look at the music recording industry to understand that they have to lose a lot of business FIRST. They want to ride the DVD gravy train as long as they can. Apple is just working within that system, I don't expect that anything will change Apple's ability to do that except "time".

That said, Apple could fix up AppleTV quickly by merely adding DVR functionality as well as slingbox functionality to it. Then, voila! Your iPhone or iPod touch becomes an amazing portable streaming device with access to all your media.

I expect the reason Apple hasn't done this yet is also "time" related. Doing so would freak out a lot of folks at the tv networks, cable, satellite companies, etc. Apple is the one company that can make watching what you want, when you want, where you want it easy.

I think it's when, not if. But "when" may be a few years out yet.

Robert Seidman · 1 year ago

Not to spam your blog, but I'm a lot more passionate about these topics than "social media". Jason is right about them not giving Apple the whole pie, and also right about on demand offerings. Mark Cuban has played around with launching films On Demand at the same time as in the theater, but I believe the pricing was a little more expensive than what you list here. It might have been ~$20 with the theory that for 2 people it was the same price as going to the theater and cheaper if you had more people watching.

Louis Gray · 1 year ago

Spam is unsolicited. Your comments are always welcome here. Historically (2006/07) the blog was a lot more about Apple and iTunes than social media, but things change. That's how I got to know Jason of Webomatica and MG of ParisLemon for starters.

Do I think Apple can strong-arm the industry in one fell swoop? No. But it sure would be nice as a consumer to see a solution develop.

CyndyA · 1 year ago

NEVER gonna happen. Movie theaters don't make their money on tickets; they make it on concessions. Pricing rentals available for home use would cripple them, especially when your rental price is at or under what actual movie tickets are (currently running around $15 in NYC). Not to mention, your rental plan doesn't account for multiple audience members watching it; why not invite the neighborhood at the bargain price of $10 for all of them? Mind you, I'd be more than happy to shell out $50 to see a first-run movie on opening night in my house; it sure beats paying for the sitter plus the tickets.

Kevin Haggerty · 1 year ago

At this point, I'd settle for the ability to rent ANY movie using AppleTV in Canada... I guess I can't complain too much, we're finally getting an iPhone up here "sometime this year". (sigh)

Ian Kemmish · 1 year ago

Your suggested pricing doesn't make sense. It would have be more expensive than the price of the cinema tickets, since you're paying for the opportunity to view the movie PLUS the convenience of not travelling to the cinema. Factoring in estimates of the size of the average home audience plus the cost of travel, you'd probably be looking at $50 per movie per viewing. Which the studios might wear, were it not for SJ's legendary avarice in these matters!

Erin Gurney · 1 year ago

I have a feeling that by next year, you will be happy to have an excuse to get out of the house once in a while and pay for overpriced movie tickets on opening weekend.

TranceMist · 1 year ago

Sometimes people need to get out of the house, no matter how nice it is.