No surprises here. After months of insinuations from its CEO, Jeff Bewkes, that the studio was unhappy with the 28-day delay window, Warner has extended its new release embargo for Redbox and Netflix to 56 days.
Mark Horak, president of Warner Home Video North America, said the following about the value of delay windows and Hollywood’s UltraViolet technology:
“Since we implemented a 28-day window for subscription and kiosk, we have seen very positive results with regard to our sell-through business . . . One of the key initiatives for Warner Bros. is to improve the value of ownership for the consumer and the extension of the rental window – along with our support of UltraViolet – is an important piece of that strategy.”
Netflix, which shouldn’t be too affected by the lengthened window, was on hand when the announcement was made, and is completely on board with the move (at least publicly). Netflix VP of content Anna Lee said the following about the extended embargo:
“Netflix wants to ensure members have continued secure access to Warner Bros. DVDs and Blu-ray discs and, as such, is accepting the 56 day holdback,”
Are you ready to wait nearly two months for Warner titles to hit Redbox, Insiders? How is the movie renting (and purchasing) public going to react to this move?
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(via Home Media Magazine)
This is not accurate. According to CNBC, Coinstar has not agreed to this 56 day window.
Why does Coinstar need to agree? It’s Warner’s decision and Coinstar will just have to deal, right?
Coinstar has to agree because it would be a wrritten contract with WB. Netflix agreed and signed it, Coinstar and Blockbuster are fighting it.
Let’s see… 28-day delay didn’t work.
Will 56-day work?
How soon for 72-day?
I suppose more torrent sites will start seeing more traffic. They are trying to hold water in their hands, and the tighter they squeeze their fist, the more water escapes… So nice job guys.
Nice one.
It’s the only thing they can do to try to hold on to some money, with more and more people watching movies at home, paying less and less for the actual movies. I wonder how long these studios will fight this gradual shift.
Back before VCR’s, theaters were the only way to watch movies (unless they went to TV), man they sure had all the power back then…they must miss the old days!
They had even more power when they owned the theaters, too. Eventually those trusts got busted up.
Hey, WB – why don’t you try a 90-day window next? Nobody is going to increase their purchases of your crappy f***g movies either way.
I say bring it on WB…considering the only reason you are doing this is to try and force people to use your own overglorified rental system, UV.
Which is ironic, because UV is the reason I am no longer purchasing any WB titles.
This is their attempt to CONTROL the future digital market, by using their own proprietary system. WB believes they are graciously giving us both physical and rental rights in one package, so there ‘s no need to go elsewhere….*cough* control *cough*
Notice there is no mention of declining sales as the tired excuse that we USED to see, with the quote..”along with our support of UltraViolet – is an important piece of that strategy.”
Nice try WB, I will continue to not purchase your “hot” titles, and for those who still must haves… patiently wait the 56 plus days and you will see some nice sales, too.
This isn’t going to change anything. If I wasn’t going to buy a movie before, I’m still not going to buy it with the longer delay window.
If you didn’t see the movie in the theaters, then what difference is 28 days vs. 56 days after release date for rental availability?
If WB thinks that I am going to purchase their dvds/blu-rays with this 2 month hold, they are surely mistaken. I never purchase dvds/blu-rays. I think WB gets a bigger cut from the more expensive $4-5 WB online rentals than redbox so that is why they are doing it. If it is a must see “WB” movie which is very rare, I will rent it from amazon or vudu (hopefully for a deal). If it is just one of their regular “I’ll check it out” movies, I will wait the 2 months. I can see other studios do the same and then we may see a domino effect. Next year, WB will say “Lets do a 4 month hold. What is an extra 2 months?”. Shame on you WB. Don’t follow the Netflix path and try to squeeze the customer for every penny.
What is everybody going to do when the studios push Redbox out of business and the only way to watch a movie is too stream or purchase the movie?? I promise you when the digital delivery systems and the studios get rid of cheap rental sources that they will go up on their price point.
Then consumers will get much more choosy about what they stream/rent. Most consumers I know will not be intimidated into buying or streaming at high cost. The days of high cost rentals or premium price buying are gone – the studios may think they can roll back to those times, but it ain’t happening.
I say rent one copy from a video rental store and then let all your friends and family have it and pirate it as well as all of the Warner titles. If you want to delay…we will PIRATE your DVD’s. F-U-C-K OFF Warner!!!!!!!!!
Its pure economics…supply and demand. The studios want you to either go to the theater and pay a premium ticket price and/or buy the dvd when it comes out or make you wait to buy it. I too once bought dvds, but once I’ve seen the movie, most cases thats it. So, it just makes sense to rent it and be done with it. With so much media in the world, a person can only watch what they have time for, so I’ll wait till it comes out for rental, if its 56 days or 90 days or whatever.
You can always rent the new releases as soon as they go on sale from your local library for $1.50, thats what i do.
I can really care less! They can put a 90 day bit on it! I still will not buy the crap movies! I have over 200 at home. And I can still go and get what is out at RedBox. Block Buster and I have NetFlix online. I don’t go to the crap show any more. The out of control kids and people. The crap Pop Corn. Shit Coke. And up the butt price to get it. No thanks! I have my Home Theater Set Up! A LCD Projector.A 8 Ft wide 4 Ft high screen.. A good Blue-Ray player. A Laser Disc Player. And a VHS player all set up and going. I can watch what I want when I want. No out of control people. No crap Pop Corn are Coke. And no up the butt price to get in! Home is where it is at!