How we consume our entertainment is changing/ has changed, but with the old ‘rules’ about certain time-scales between cinema exhibition and home entertainment releasing are still being heavily enforced for most movies (usually you’re looking at at least four months between releases). That could all change very soon though if Apple get their way.
The company is said to be applying pressure to the big Hollywood film studios to offer releases via their iTunes store as early as two weeks after their initial cinema release – and three of the six big boys, 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros. Pictures and Universal Pictures, are said to be looking at a deal.
Of course, the rental fees for a film like Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, a Warners title that is currently playing, will be much higher than you traditional rental fee. According to Bloomberg, who report the news of Apple’s plans, rentals would be between $25 and $50, which sounds like a bit of a bargain considering how much you can pay to take a family of four to your local multiplex.
Of course, there’s no deal yet, and the other three big studios, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures and the mighty Walt Disney Company are still not saying if they would be up for discussions. Then there’s got to be the theater owners – surely they will have something to say about this mechanism which could take revenue from them?
It’s early days, but an interesting prospect, and one which will make Apple’s iTunes a major player in the streaming/ rental world. Despite this, the source says that a premium digital platform service could be in motion in 12-18 months time.
We’ll wait and see, and of course, bring you more as it comes our way.
