AT&T, HBO Put Another Bullet In Antiquated Theatrical Release Windows

AT&T, HBO Put Another Bullet In Antiquated Theatrical Release Windows

4 years ago
Anonymous $y15ULlV7sG

https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20201203/10542745816/att-hbo-put-another-bullet-antiquated-theatrical-release-windows.shtml

Among the dated and dumb business concepts exposed as folly during the pandemic is the traditional Hollywood film release window, which typically involves a 90 day gap between the time a move appears in theaters and its streaming or DVD release (in France this window is even more ridiculous at three years). The goal is usually to "protect the traditional film industry," though it's never been entirely clear why you'd protect traditional theaters at the cost of common sense, consumer demand, and a more efficient model. Just because?

While the industry has flirted with the idea of "day and date" releases for decades (releasing movies on home video at the same time as brick and mortar theaters), there's long been a lot of hyperventilation on the part of movie theaters and traditionalists that this sort of shift wasn't technically possible or would somehow destroy the traditional "movie experience," driving theaters out of business.