Iger: 'Release Movies to Theaters & DVD Simultaneously'

[AwallaceUNC]

Disney Earnings Rise -- Except for Studio Unit

Disney's latest quarterly report looked much like a balloon animal created by a party entertainer. Parts of the company, like TV and theme parks, expanded significantly while other parts, like movies and DVD sales, deflated. All told, however, the company's profits rose 41 percent to $851 million, versus $604 million for the comparable quarter a year ago. Profits for ABC, its owned TV stations, and ESPN were up 48 percent from a year ago. ABC in particular was aided by the hit shows Desperate Housewives and Lost. However, the company's movie studio division saw a $34-million loss, primarily due to soft DVD sales. In a conference call with analysts, incoming Disney CEO Robert Iger urged the movie industry to rethink its policy of releasing movies on DVDs months after they are shown in theaters. He suggested that it might be wise to release them on both platforms simultaneously. "I think all the old rules should be called into question because rules of consumption have changed," Iger said.

...IMDb.com

I don't even know what to think about this, other than that I have very serious reservations about the wisdom of it all.

-Aaron

[JiminyCrick91]

WOAH! THAT IS AWESOME I can’t wait! That could mean theatrically-released DTVs and classic films. But what will they put in the trailer "coming only to theaters, Video & DVD 2007"?

[Disneykid]

That's a very bizarre suggestion on his part. On one hand, it'll heavily decrease bootlegging and increase DVD sales, but on the other, box office ticket sales (which are already suffering), will hit an all-time low. I have to admit, though, that I'm intrigued by this idea. Despite being 18, I still don't have a driver's license, meaning I only get to go to the movies when someone else I know is interested in the film in question. You can guess how often that happens. With simultaneous theater and DVD releases, I won't have to wait months to see a film that no one else I know is interested in (or have to obtain that film through *ahem* other means when I'm too anxious to wait). This should prove to be very interesting if greenlit...

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

I think this idea is cool, and yet it makes perfect sense. Some movies are fogotten just because they wait months to release the films on DVDs. Maybe if they release films on DVDs sooner, it would be easier for people if they don't have a chance to see a movie in the theater.

[Pasta67]

He suggested that it might be wise to release them on both platforms simultaneously. "I think all the old rules should be called into question because rules of consumption have changed," Iger said.

Noooooo!

I for one don't like this idea. I don't know what he was thinking when he said that. This could cause a lot of financial problems.

1) If the movies are released in theaters and DVD at the same time, it can only decrease profit. Let's say a movie makes $100,000,000 in theaters. A little while later, when it is released on DVD, it would probably make at least $40,000,000 more in sales. If they are released at the same time, the overall gross will be significantly lower because of the fact that people only have to pay to see it once, not twice.

2) What fun will it be to go to the theaters? I mean, many people will still go, but if people can just buy the movie on DVD and watch it in the comfort of their own homes, why would they go to the movies?

I see this idea going nowhere but down.

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

He suggested that it might be wise to release them on both platforms simultaneously. "I think all the old rules should be called into question because rules of consumption have changed," Iger said.

Noooooo!

2) What fun will it be to go to the theaters? I mean, many people will still go, but if people can just buy the movie on DVD and watch it in the comfort of their own homes, why would they go to the movies?

1. Where did you find that hilarious site?

2. I think Kramer said it best, "Why go to a restaurant when you can just heat something from the microwave? Why go fly a kite in the park when you can stay home and pop a pill?"

[deathie mouse]

if people can just buy the movie on DVD and watch it in the comfort of their own homes, why would they go to the movies?

Cus theatrical prints when projected correctly can look 5 to 20 times better than NTSC DVDs

Of course, oftentimes theaters don't reach that optimum experience nowadays.

So that's why i want Blu-ray as soon as possible

[Wonderlicious]

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

I am completely against this idea, as you can tell. In escence, it is wrecking community, as people won't commune together to watch a film more often. A while back, I saw War of the Worlds in a small cinema. During the adverts, there were people singing along to the jingles, not to mention the applause some gave (why on this movie, though?). To think this spirit will be diluted, possibly even destroyed by simultaneous movie and DVD releases. True, it'll decrease bootlegging, but it's just going over board. Films are coming out to DVD little than six months after hitting cinema screens, so it's not such a huge wait anyway.

[danamichelle]

I love the idea of dvds being released quicker but I don't know about simultaneously. They should at least wait for the movie to be in the theater a month before they release the dvd.

As for bootlegging, the idea of doing both releases at the same time will not decrease bootlegging that much. The bootleggers will just get a better copy of the movie if it has an official release. The main reason put steal movies is because they don't want to pay for them. If they are bootlegging just to watch a movie till it is released, they will get the better store copy when it is released.

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

I am completely against this idea, as you can tell. In escence, it is wrecking community, as people won't commune together to watch a film more often. A while back, I saw War of the Worlds in a small cinema. During the adverts, there were people singing along to the jingles, not to mention the applause some gave (why on this movie, though?). To think this spirit will be diluted, possibly even destroyed by simultaneous movie and DVD releases. True, it'll decrease bootlegging, but it's just going over board. Films are coming out to DVD little than six months after hitting cinema screens, so it's not such a huge wait anyway.

Just because DVDs will come quicker doesn't mean that nobody will go to the theaters anymore. I think that people still want to see films on huge movie screens no matter when the DVDs come out. There are already people who don't even want to bother to go to the theaters so this move won't make much of a difference for many people.

As for decreases of bootlegging, I didn't think of that. Another reason why I want this to happen.

[JiminyCrick91]

Well I re-thought about it and saw a bunch of pros and cons and know I just dont know if I like it or not.

[Enchantress]

I think this could both be good and bad, either way im not too bothered what happens, It's £4.40 for a student ticket where i live, i suppose it'd work out better if i was to buy the DVD and watch it a couple of times, but then again...you miss the whole cinema experience

[PatrickvD]

I wish they'd go back to releasing movies a year after theatrical release. I think this idea is BAD and they're gonna shoot themselves in their feet.

[Alan]

Despite being 18, I still don't have a driver's license, meaning I only get to go to the movies when someone else I know is interested in the film in question.

...you are 18 and you don't have your liscence. You can get your license when you are like 16 and a half years old. There should be several driving schools are your area. Theres on in my town!

[castleinthesky]

Despite being 18, I still don't have a driver's license, meaning I only get to go to the movies when someone else I know is interested in the film in question.

...you are 18 and you don't have your liscence. You can get your license when you are like 16 and a half years old. There should be several driving schools are your area. Theres on in my town!

Well in Florida you can get your license at 16. Also in Florida you do not have to complete a driving school class.

[Little Red Henski]

Is there some law that says all 18 years olds must have a Drivers license or something. It is his choice if he gets one or not.

[dvdjunkie]

Deathiemouse needs to get a life...............change is coming and 'blu-ray' or no 'blu-ray' things aren't going to be much better than they are now. If you have the proper home video equipment today, you can see the movie just as you saw it in the theater yesterday. Whether it is 1.85:1, 2.35:1, 2.40:1, or whatever, common ordinary people (that lets you off the hook) can't tell the difference anyway. With a modern Home Theater front projection system I am totally happy with what I see and hear. DTS and THX are both clearing up the sound problems of old, and HDTV is helping clear up the picture. If you have an upconversion DVD player along with your HDTV, you a considerably better picture than with ordinary DVD's or VHS.

Deathiemouse, you need to understand that only geeks, like yourself, want to see perfection at all times. The only perfection in our life was crucified on a cross and died for our sins.

You should learn to speak English and quit talking over everyone's head. I read all of your posts, but only understand about 1/8th of them because of all your techno-speak. If you were to put it all in a language we ALL UNDERSTAND, maybe we can see what it is you are concerned about.

I, speaking for myself, don't see it. I am totally happy with what I have in my home theater, and my excessive amount of DVD's and the fact that I have just purchased a brand new DVD Recorder/Player because I wore out my second one, I think that what I see on my home screen is as good as I want it to be. I don't have to impress anyone else but me, and I am impressed with what I have.



PS: Hey Disneykid, if you are 18 and don't have a driver's lcense, you need to save your cash, get a car and get a license and insurance and get out and see what this world is all about. You are missing a lot.

[Disneykid]

I guess this is the moment where I explain myself. I went to a private school, and they didn't offer a driver's ed course (I think only public schools down here do). Well, my parents are always too busy to teach me, or to even drop me off at a nearby driver's school. Getting my parents to take me anywhere is like pulling teeth. They're always "too tired" to drive me somewhere, and only do so if either a) they benefit from it, or b) it's something that ABSOLUTELY must be done, like going to pay college tuition or something. So, it's a rather cruel case of irony. I need a license so that I don't have to rely my parents to take me anywhere, but I have to rely on my parents to take me to a driving school in order to get my license.

[Little Red Henski]

but I have to rely on my parents to take me to a driving school in order to get my license.

The Driving Instructor will come to your house and pick you up.

[Disneykid]

Ah, well that changes things, then.