I should clarify that I'd be happy for a simultaneous cinema/streaming release model in theory, and actually don't think it would necessarily serve as a death knell for theatrical distribution in its own right. I get your point about release windows, too (though I suspect piracy tends to upset the distributors more than the exhibitors, as distributors lose out on cinema box office and streaming clicks and rentals).stui magpie wrote:The current studio deals that artificially prop up cinemas were at least partially responsible for so much video piracy online. People wanted to watch the latest new release but didn't want to go to a cinema and didn't want to wait til it eventually came out on DVD so they'd download and watch some very average quality stuff.
In this case, the distributors are presumably fine and will adapt to whatever release model is on offer. The trouble is that cinemas specifically are struggling and already on their knees due to COVID-19 lockdowns around the world, and what they needed more than anything was to be able to get a little bit of momentum back somehow with people flocking back for the Christmas (or, for us, summer) blockbusters. So, in so many ways, this news couldn't come at a worse time, and just feels like another nail in the coffin.
