Disney v Odeon and Vue

H

Holly:)

New member
Disney has told UK cinemas it will give Alice in Wonderland a 12 week cinema run, down from the usual 16 weeks.

Initially Odeon, Vue and Cineworld all said they would not show the film in protest, but it seems Disney have now struck a deal with Cineworld.

Cinemas argue that Disney trying to cut them off to boost DVD and Pay TV sales.

Disney argues that 97% of tickets are sold in the first 8 weeks and that films are usually taken off after this point anyway.

The protest is spreading to mainland Europe, with 85% of Dutch cinemas now threatening not to show the film.

Who is in the right?

I agree with Disney on this one. People should go to the cinema because they want to experience the film on the big screen, not because cinemas are essentially blocking DVD releases. If the cinemas were showing the film for the full 16 weeks I wouldn't mind, but they just don't - unless its Avatar maybe.
 
If Disney want to limit the run, why shouldn't they?

As a regular cinema-goer, I'm getting tired of seeing 2-3 screens (sometimes the biggest/best ones) being occupied by Avatar that I saw 6 weeks ago.
 
It is actually a complicated issue with serious longterm implications for cinema owners. It isnt a question of letting Disney enable people to watch a movie on DVD when they desire. Disney will shorten the theatrical window even more if they get away with this and this will cause people to decide to wait for the film to come onto DVD if they knew it would be released only a couple of months after initial release rather than go and see the film on the big screen. Cinemas also receive a larger cut of the profits the longer a film is on screens. As I stated it is a far more complicated issue and I can symphathise with cinema owners that have enough distractions from other forms of entertainment as well as piracy without studios making it even harder for them.
 
But shouldn't it be a free market?

If cinema owners don't diversify to meet new consumer demand, that's their fault.

I think people should go to the cinema because they want to go to the cinema.

Disney are happy to give them an exclusive window for as long as these films perform, just not for double the amount of time it actually spenRAB on the screen.
 
Back
Top