Comcast Mulls Streaming New Movies for $50
Tue May 15, 2007 3:44PM EDT
See Comments (24)
Had it with trekking to the movies for the latest Spider-Man flick, only to share your movie with obnoxious patrons, ringing cell phones and overpriced hot dogs? Cable provider Comcast is floating the idea of streaming new releases right to your home on opening day—for anywhere between $30 and $50. Sound like a rip-off? Then let's do the math.
Anyway, let's just say Comcast went ahead and began offering on-demand first-run movies via cable—so now, you're just hitting your remote on the opening day of "Spider-Man 3" rather than heading out to the multiplex. Forking over $50 (or even $30) for an on-demand movie sounds like way too much cash...unless you're bringing the whole gang to the theater. Here in New York City, movie tickets run $12 to $13, and say you're going with three friends, or bringing your significant other with a pair of tykes in tow. Twelve bucks times four...hmmm, that's $48 right there. And say you're not exactly going to a massive movie theater like the Ziegfeld in midtown Manhattan—maybe it's just one of those mid-sized theaters, with sticky seats and a projectionist who's lost interest in the "focus" knob. Oh, and even after the movie starts, you've got bored teens stomping up and down the aisles, phone addicts who have to check their voice mail every five minutes, and a guy next to you who's doing his own running commentary.
OK, so it sounds like someone just had a bad experience at the movies, but you get my drift. Basically, if I'm going to shell out $50 for a first-run movie—and it's not "Star Wars" in a gigantic movie palace—I'd rather just gather my friends in the den, fire up my HDTV and 5.1 surround system, and watch at home. Of course, I'm assuming that cable companies would be streaming new movies in HD—if not, deal's off.
Am I nuts? Still sound like a raw deal? Let me know what you think.
Related:
Comcast Wants To Charge Up To $49.95 To Stream Movies To Your Home [Consumerist, via Gizmodo]
Comments on Comcast Mulls Streaming New Movies for $50
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2 Posted by arisonius3 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:57PM EDT Report Abuse
Sounds to me like, if Comcast goes through with this, they are going to be in for a rough ride and even maybe a whole retooling of their services. Currently they offer a DVR, easily recorded new movies mean film studious are out of big bucks. With faster burning equipment, it wont be long until we see an HD "burn-as-you-watch" device, or just plain old VHS recordings, if one isn't on the market already. I think I'll sit back and see if anything actually happens with this for now.
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3 Posted by pwingate17 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:23PM EDT Report Abuse
Arghh matey! a pirate's life indeed!
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4 Posted by sandersp1968 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:03PM EDT Report Abuse
I think you're a moron. It is spelled 'aisles' not 'isles'. Try turning off the spell checker and turn on your brain. Liked what you said up to that point, but with a mistake like that on a major web site, it shows you are cranking out the commentary just to be noticed.
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5 Posted by pmpmartinez on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:14PM EDT Report Abuse
Not a bad idea, but you still gotta get the popcorn, soda pretzels, etc. that would be well beyond 50 bucks. I think I would pay around 25 bucks. Thats about the same price as a fight. I would rather go to a matinee.
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6 Posted by taffae on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:54PM EDT Report Abuse
Hey you forgot about the cost of gas if you are no where near a theater. $10 for popcorn, $5.00 for a mini back of M&M's. Sounds like a money saver to me.
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7 Posted by somebodys_here on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:32PM EDT Report Abuse
it's not very hard to see how simple pirating these movies would be: all you would need is a cable splitter, a video capture card, and a PC with a large hard drive. Split the feeds to your TV, run a cable to your PC and rip the movie as you watch. An HD capable tuner is a little more expensive, but the possibility of this would make any pirate happier then finding a cache of rum hidden under his floor boards.
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8 Posted by jaketheman@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:27PM EDT Report Abuse
I think it's a good idea, but I don't really see is happening with all the risks of pirating. This would make pirating a HUGE issue and probably drop profits intensely. Oh, and shut up Sandersp1968, everyone makes mistakes, their isn't any need to get all angry about it.. sheesh.
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9 Posted by sir_teddy on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:24PM EDT Report Abuse
i need the gigantic screen
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10 Posted by egoodkis on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:52PM EDT Report Abuse
i am in no way a hermit but this would be a great idea. im the only one in my group of friends with an HDTV and i always love it when people say its like im at the theater. Plus you get the girl over to your house quicker.
1 Posted by seanathome00 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:10PM EDT Report Abuse
That's soo cool! Although, this deal can be really, really dangerous in terms of piracy. Since the "pirate" will be using their camcorder at home w/ no noise and up close to the screen, the quality will be amazing. So, less and less people will go the movie theaters/pay Comcast because more HQ versions are available for free. But besides that, if they have HD versions available at launch, then this is the BEST idea from Comcast since OnDemand! ;)