I just heard thatto stem the flow of Pirate DVDs Warner is releasing movies and DVDs on the same day in China.
We'll see what happens.
Good Luck
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JB you're still a cool cat in my book.
Awww shucks, Nigel. You made me blush. [img]redface.gif[/img]
I think that it would probably help to release DVD's worldwide, especially for the really popular ones.
I don't know, though. I think some people will pirate regardless. And some people will buy/download stolen stuff because they're asreholes.
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I [img]graemlins/heart.gif[/img] Nigel.
<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ June 10, 2005 10:58 AM: Message edited by: Brooks Productions ]</font>
copies are cheaper and downloads are basically free. I dont think this will have much impact to be honest
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JB and Nigel sitting in a tree...
<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ June 10, 2005 10:58 AM: Message edited by: Brooks Productions ]</font>
Warner is making yet another step in an attempt to curb the number of illegitimate DVD releases in China: They have released the first movie (Sisterhood of the traveling pants) on DVD the same day it debuted in theaters in the US. While this might not be the ideal movie to test a measure like this (I'd have picked a major blockbuster), it is at least good to see some studios looking beyond the "we are being robbed" screaming, and look at some of the root causes why people do not buy official DVDs: price and availability.
This sounds insane, releasing DVD's in China on the same day as the US Theatre release.
Basically handing the chinese pirates DVD's to put on the net while the film is still in films in the threates (and most likely 3 months until UK Theatre release). So there'll be no more shitty video recorded pirate copies, but instead some nice DVD rips to download.
I wonder if they think the DVD market in China is more important than the theatrical market of the West, or just that piracy of western theatrical films is already as bad as it will get so a little worsening won't hurt when balanced out by Chinese DVD sales.
It's an interesting move, can't help feeling though it's gonna do sweet FA for curbing piracy. Why not instead push for digital theatres enabling worldwide theatrical release on all films, or at least delay US DVD release to match worldwide DVD release (nothing like paying ?7 to watch a film in the cinema here thats already out in DVD America, and thus available for free download).
Invade China!!!!!
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Naaah, I'm just kidding.
From The Guardian today:
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">DVD sales have rocketed in the last five years and now account for a far larger percentage of the Hollywood market than ticket sales at the cinema, and the glut of sequels on the big screens seems to have finally turned the American consumer away from the movie theatre. Attendance is nearly 11% lower than last year, according to Exhibitor Relations, an audience tracking company.
If this trend continues it will be the lowest number of film-goers since 1996 and the first time since 1962 that Hollywood has seen three consecutive years of declining ticket sales. There have been several potentially strong titles, including Batman Begins, Mr & Mrs Smith, Madagascar, The Longest Yard and, of course, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, over the summer but they have enjoyed relatively little impact.
Exactly, with DVD sales being even more important than Cinema sales, why on earth would they think this was be a good idea.
The dvd screener is easily available for download (since the 14th), so why would people want to buy a DVD in 6 months time that has already been available for free download for 6 months.
On the one hand they make such a big song and dance about piracy destroying their profits, yet at the same time they are completely nonchalant about the effect piracy will have on DVD sales.
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