Why You'll Be Able to Watch New Movies At Home Sooner Than Ever
Aaron PressmanDecember 5, 2016, 9:00 AM EST
Falling disc sales pressure Hollywood.
Movie fans will soon be able to watch their favorite flicks at home much sooner after they hit theaters. In a potential boon to users of Apple TV, Roku and other online set-top boxes, Hollywood studios are negotiating to reduce the so-called theatrical window to just two to four weeks after a movie’s release, according to one analyst.
The studios are looking to make up for plummeting revenue from the sale of DVDs and Blu-ray discs, while attacking the largest type of video piracy, according to the analysis. A new early-release window could generate large sums, carrying a price of $25 or $50 per movie versus the $10 to $15 charged under the current system with its typical three-month or longer delays.
Several studio executives have recently spoken publicly about their efforts to create an earlier viewing opportunity, analyst Michael Nathanson of MoffettNathanson Research wrote in a report released Monday. For example, Kevin Tsujihara, CEO of Warner Bros., last week said the issue had become “an imperative,” adding “we’re going to do it.”
This pretty much negates any idea of having to go to the theater to watch a movie if it's available On-Demand two weeks later.
Apple TV, Roku Users May Get Quicker Access to New Movie Releases