Facebook Plunges Again
Tumblr 101: Tips And Tricks To Get Started
Georgie thinks movie downloads are the future
Mr. Star Wars, the geek-man, OB1 himself, none other than George Lucas thinks movie downloads are where it's at for the future of movie entertainment distribution. Really? We didn't see that coming. Steve Jobs has also been chatting with Lucas at various times about the idea, which isn't surprising now that iTunes now has movies from Disney, with more to follow invariably. Lucas and Jobs have history as most people know in the Pixar sale back in the day. The two it seems are interested in where movies are headed. Diversity of content is a big thing, as the audience will determine what movies make it and which don't. The media moguls seem to think that most people who would download movies are somewhat picky, and generally I have to agree. I am picky too, can't deny it, I want movie studios, download services, websites, and software makers to cater to me, and so does everyone. It isn't that out of the ordinary. Lucas says that those who can capitalize on the public's wants and desires by producing the kind of content they want will win in the new world of movie downloads. This begs the question then, are the theatres in trouble of becoming extinct? Will they have to reinvent themselves to remain relevant? Maybe not extinct tomorrow, but what about in five or ten years?
Comments
2
Subscribe to commentsRandyOct 9th 2006 12:15PM
Wasn't this the same guy that thought Jar Jar was a GOOD idea?
Doesn't make him wrong, mind, but it does make him suspect.
AlessandroOct 9th 2006 12:15PM
Will it make theatres extinct? Unlikely. Some films are just made to be seen on the big screen. And besides, people, being social creatures, just *like* going to the cinema.
What I do worry about, though, is this: As mail-delivered DVDs, on-demand cable programming and instantly downloadable high-def movies are becoming more widely available and more popular than ever, what is going to happen to the movie ticket price?
As it is, in NYC, the price of going to the cinema is $10.50 per ticket, and few theatres have discounts for anyone but senior citizens. If demand decreases enough because of other options, theatre managers will have to figure out a way to keep theatres open. At first, ticket prices may fall to make a night at the cinema a more attractive option. But there is the risk that movie houses will have to close... or, inevitably, ticket prices will eventually skyrocket to keep the few surviving cinemas open.
I love movies. I love movie theatres, but I also love the comfort of staying at home with a rented DVD and the unparalleled convenience of downloading media. The only chance cinemas have is of keeping ticket prices relatively low-cost, or if they become a philanthropic side-project of the movie industry (where money is reallocated from the highly profitable DVD and download sales to the movie theatre -- even if the latter is operating at a loss -- in order to keep ticked prices down).