US NEWS: Cinemas threatened as Hollywood plans to go straight to TV

By Joe Cox
published

US cinemas could boycott blockbuster releases as Hollywood plans to bring films to TV as soon as 30 days after the cinema release

AMC is one of the chains against the proposed change

Warner Brothers and 20th Century Fox are in talks with satellite TV operators in the US to show films on-demand a month after they hit cinemas.

The move has angered cinema chains in the US, who have promised to favour films released by studios that aren't part of the deal.

Film studios currently wait up to four months after the cinema release before releasing DVDs or offering the film on-demand to TV companies.

The cinema chains say the new plans would be damaging to ticket sales.

Paramount Pictures has privately come out against the new plans, reports the Financial Times.

Of course taking sides with the cinemas could in turn Paramount's blockbuster releases get priority when it comes to allocating screens.

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Joe Cox
Joe Cox
Content Director

Joe is Content Director for T3 and What Hi-Fi?, having previously been the Global Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-Fi?. He has worked on What Hi-Fi? across the print magazine and website for more than 15 years, writing news, reviews and features on everything from turntables to TVs, headphones to hi-fi separates. He has covered product launch events across the world, from Apple to Technics, Sony and Samsung; reported from CES, the Bristol Show, and Munich High End for many years; and written for sites such as the BBC, Stuff, and the Guardian. In his spare time, he enjoys expanding his vinyl collection and cycling (not at the same time).