Posted on 05/07/2010 3:04:32 PM PDT by OldDeckHand
The MPAA, which is the Hollywood studios' lobbying organization, just made this announcement about the FCC's very bad decision. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: once again, Big Media shows that it doesn't want to share its profits with anyone else. Today's action allows the major movie studios to undercut the entire process of theatrical release. It would put the struggling cinema chains virtually out of business.
(Excerpt) Read more at deadline.com ...
Washington, D.C. — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), saying it was “in the public interest” today approved a request by the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA) to permit recent movies to be sent directly to American households over secure high definition transmission lines from their cable or satellite providers prior to their release on DVD or Blu-ray.
“This action is an important victory for consumers who will now have far greater access to see recent high definition movies in their homes. And it is a major step forward in the development of new business models by the motion picture industry to respond to growing consumer demand.” said Bob Pisano, President and Interim CEO of the MPAA. “We deeply appreciate the recognition by the FCC that recently released movies need special protection against content theft when they are distributed to home televisions.”
Specifically, the issue before the FCC was a request by the MPAA for permission to use selectable output control (SOC), which would allow televisions with digitally secure interfaces to receive high-definition content from a cable, satellite or IPTV provider, before its release on DVD or Blue-ray. Using SOC protects content because during the broadcast it essentially disables non-secure, analog outputs to avoid illegal circumvention and distribution of copyrighted material.
In its order, the FCC said: “On balance, this limited waiver will provide public interest benefits– making movies widely available for home viewing far earlier than ever before – without imposing harm on any consumers.”
“The first, and best way to view movies will always be in movie theaters – and nothing can replace the pleasure this brings to millions and millions of people all across our country and the globe,” Pisano said. “But for those people unable to make it to the theater and interested in viewing a recently released movie, thanks to the FCC, they will now have a new option. For other consumers who prefer standard, linear, on-demand or DVD or Blu-ray options, these services will be unchanged."
I'm not sure what business this is of the FCC in the first place, but that's probably another conversation.
Movie theaters won’t end. You can’t get that kind of experience at home, even with the best technology. Nothing like a crowd.
Plus, no matter how expensive it gets, you can always smuggle in your own food and go see a couple extra movies without paying.
As theaters continue to convert to digital, to 3-D and 4-D their future looks brighter rather than more dim.
“it is a major step forward in the development of new business models by the motion picture industry to respond to growing consumer demand.”
If it was really in their interest, the motion picture industry would do it on their own. Why it is the federal government feels the need to respond to consumer demand is beyond me. Going by the evidence of 98% of everything the federal government’s ever spent money on, I’d say they have no idea what consumers want.
“As theaters continue to convert to digital, to 3-D and 4-D”
How do you get 4 dimensions? Will we be able to see time?
“I’m not sure what business this is of the FCC in the first place, but that’s probably another conversation.”
My thoughts exactly. The studio that makes and owns the film can do whatever they want with it, I don’t care what the FCC says. If the studio wants to make it available only to youtube then that’s their business. I wonder why these businesses play nice with Govt. entities like the FCC anyway? I would have maybe sent them a letter saying “this is how we are going to distribute our product, if you like the idea great, if not, cram it up your cramhole, thank you”.
A couple of cable movies pay for a full month of Netflix with 2-at-a-time DVDs and unlimited streaming.
If one can wait about a month, that ‘first run’ would be more cost-effective via Netflix than through the cable/satellite companies.
Theaters are better for some things than home. You don’t want to be sticking yer used gum on the seat ahead of you if it’s Mom’s new recliner...
Yeah, I'm really going to miss people texting and gabbing on their cell phones during the movie, and paying $20 for popcorn and a soda....NOT!
In big markets, that's probably very true. But, these digital 3-D theaters are ridiculously capital intensive ventures. It will be years before the technology becomes affordable enough to make sense in the smaller markets.
Plus, I just saw an ad for the first 3-D HiDef home theater. I actually love the theater experience, but I'm not convinced my grandchildren will be familiar with the concept, in much the same way as my children have never been to a drive-in, except the two oldest.
No, but the experience of a 2 hour movie will age you by 4 hours.
“Yeah, I’m really going to miss people texting and gabbing on their cell phones during the movie, and paying $20 for popcorn and a soda....NOT!”
People on their phones ought to be publicly shamed, and often are. It’s the fault of your particular crowd if you let it slide. Anyway, phones are omnipresent, exist wherever there are people, people have generally gotten used to them, and they are not uniquely destructive to the movie theater experience. (The darkness doesn’t help, but little lights don’t bother me much anyway.) Above all, they are not enough to cancel out the benefits.
As for candy, that’s really not the point. And like I said, you can easily smuggle in your own.
I predict that there will eventually evolve a very tightly controlled (and very expensive) theater experience in which everyone is scanned for cell phones before entering; in which ushers and security are omnipresent and in fact enforce rules; and in which video and audio quality is terrific.
Yeah. Imagine the enhanced versions of Star Wars and other big screen epics on a 42” screen rather than a huge theater screen. Don’t worry, the market will take care of the distribution.
Some FCC regulations are legit. For instance, how to break up the wireless spectrum to make sure that each radio station can broadcast, each television station... That said, I don’t see how the FCC gets to regulate the content on the chunks of the spectrum they dole out, nor do I see why they have authority of wired connections since there is minimal interference between two wired devices.
Yes, in fact, cell phones DO cancel out the benefits. I’m a movieholic, but I’ve virtually stopped going (as have most people I know, including those who like movies) for that very reason. And if you think the audience will “shame” someone, think again. You might very well get your lights punched out.
Thats what they said about “Drive Ins”.....sure are a shit load of them around theses days........
These AH’s are destroying the “American Way”
Smellorama will revive the theaters.
...or the smell of all those people in a tiny auditorium on a warm summer night...
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