Cinemas in threat over TV screenings

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The largest cinema chains in the US are preparing for a summer skirmish with Hollywood by threatening to withhold films from screens if the studios proceed with contentious plans to show movies “on-demand” in homes less than two months after release.

Warner Brothers and 20th Century Fox are working on a new premium video-on-demand scheme with DirecTV, the satellite operator, which would see films made available in the home between 30 and 60 days after screening in cinemas. The studios currently wait up to four months before releasing movies on-demand and on DVD. They hope premium video-on-demand, which will allow home viewers to watch relatively new movies for $30, will replace income lost by the decline of DVD sales, once Hollywood’s most lucrative revenue stream. The service is aimed at anyone who would rather not venture out to the cinema or for families where tickets may be costlier for larger groups. But John Fithian, chief executive of the National Association of Theatre Owners, which represents US cinema chains such as Regal, AMC and Cinemark, said that his members were fighting the plan and had indicated they would give more of their screens to summer movies released by studios not involved in the scheme.


Cinemas in threat over TV screenings