Move over Zip.ca, Bell Canada and Rogers Communications, Canada’s largest theatrical movie exhibitor, Cineplex Entertainment, is considering the possibility that theatrical exhibition is not the only way to make money off movies – either that or they are the first exhibitor to admit that their days as big players are in jeopardy unless they switch business models. Either way, Cineplex is going to start selling post-theatrical-window films (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and Eat Pray Love, for instance at the time of this writing) via download; either for rent or for buying. More on this in a moment.
Personally, I think that Cineplex Odeon is pretty much a blight on the film-going experience to begin with. Years ago when they competed with Famous Players, they were slow to get into the ‘build massive stand-alone multiplexes’ game that their competitor embraced. It proved to be a sly move, because that sort of expansion-gone-wild put Famous Players in a position to be gobbled up at fire-sale pricing by Cineplex (as best as I understand things, which really I do not know the minutiae of what went down on the business end.) But it appears the new mega-exhibitor picked up all the awful habits that Famous Players embraced to stave off Bankruptcy: A Fast-Food/Theme Park atmosphere in the lobby, half a dozen (sometimes more) advertisements prior to the show not even including the bumpers and membership incentive spots, and of course the dreaded pre-pre-show projected E! style infotainment which has been scientifically proven to rot your brain (well not really, but it sure does annoy the hell out of me.) AMC in Canada has for one reason or another stuck with the silent slide-shows prior to show-time and while they are mildly brain-rotting as well, at least they are easier to ignore than the TV-like projection crap with full sales-pitch toned soundtrack. The one thing I will give the business credit with is that they introduced a print-your-own ticket system for online purchases which does help when the few IMAX screens they have often do get sold out, allowing for convenient bar-code scanning at the door. But this is the only customer oriented thing they’ve done (and there is sometimes surcharge $1 for this service, it is often but not always waived, but still, I am printing my own damn ticket, the service should be free.)
But here is how they are either a) stupid or b) have an agenda to fail in this endeavor. The cost to rent a movie $4.99 (digital copy that has to be fully watched within 48 hours of hitting ‘PLAY.’) The cost to buy an average new release movie $19.99 (digital copy to be stored on your hard drive or their servers.) Or you know, you could pay $7.99 and get Netflix streaming access of an entire library ‘instantly.’ You see with Cineplex Entertainment’s model, you have to download the thing to your hard disk first. In an increasingly competitive online field for your movie-delivery, welcome to the party, Cineplex Entertainment, too bad you are stuck in 2005. This is about as bad as iTunes.ca in ridiculous over-pricing ‘virtual product,’ but at least in their case you can drop the movie onto your mobile device. Cineplex, on the otherhand, chains the one instance to your PC. Sheesh.
Sources: CBC and TorontoSun.
Yeah, I’m not sure what they’re thinking with this move. When I saw the news at CBC I just shook my head – aren’t they paying attention?
I’ve noticed as of late that the Cineplex I frequent has cut down significantly on pre-trailer advertising. We used to sit through 5 or 6 ads on a regular basis, the last 1/2 dozen times I’ve been there, that number has gone down to 2, 3 max. And yes, the preshow mind-drain is awful (as is the gadget guy & the magician who just pis me off). I’ve gotten into the habit of sitting there with my headphones plugged in.
Unless they are fulfilling some weird corporate obligation to have something out there, and doing it half-ass (hence my ‘agenda’ comment).
But if they want to act this silly, I’m more than happy to consult for them on the whole streaming (’cause I’m an expert dontchaknow!) business model for $15,000 a month.
To all you Cineplex Entertainment execs readings, my email address is just clicking on my name!
(heh.)
As to how I deal with that stuff at Odeon/SilverCity/etc theatres under the Cineplex Umbrella….I Don’t. I’ve boycotted the theatre for years, unless someone gives me gift-certificates or freebie passes or I want to see something in IMAX (which has no ads except for the Jurassic IMAX tech-demo-laser-show.WTF, seriously folks, that is like sooo 1993!). Otherwise it one of the AMCs or The Carlton or now, TIFF Lightbox.
I don’t know the deal with Netflix in Canada, but wouldn’t it be a great platform for promoting Canadian films… at least in the comfort of your own home, all films being somewhat equal on Netflix with the browsing, by virtue of an interesting cover or concept, people will try it out… they could jump out of it if they don’t like it… I am finding for me it makes me more adventurous in what I choose to watch.
Sort of sounds a lot like the Playstation Network On-demand service. They have a bunch of movies, but the cost to rent or buy them is a little silly. About the same as these prices – depending on the relevancy/newness of the title.
Sometimes they have pre-theater released films (including Monsters and Centurion before they hit theaters) which are a pretty good deal.
As for pre pre pre movie shenanigans, I’m like Marina. I plug my brain into my ipod and listen to the latest Kermodean rant while playing Monopoly or Solitaire. The actual content doesn’t really bother me since I don’t pay attention. It’s the fucking time out of my life that it wastes.
I supposed for the ‘e-device’ set it’s not a problem, but for the ‘book-readers’ it is like Chinese Water Torture trying to read during the peppy E! talk and Coke Commercials…
a plus for the Lightbox, no commercials of any kind… lights go down, movie comes on.
I plunked down some money for the membership at LightBox, albeit it was expensive ($300), but it does come with a handy tax receipt to offset. Tickets for shows for members are only $6. I’ll se more than 30 films over a year and break even, plus some TIFF benefits, like early draw. I sound like a sales pitch, but really, ‘NO COMMERCIALS’ and access to contemporary foreign cinema (often with filmmakers in attendance for the first screening) is the major draw.
The Jack Rebney (WINNEBAGO MAN) Q&A has already made the $$ feel well spent.
The problem in Vancouver is that we don’t have that much theatre selection. Cineplex is the major chain, Empire locations are scarce and the one I can get to (downtown) is essentially a second run cinema and the rest (Festival Cinemas, The Ridge and VIFF Centre) are pretty limited in their releases. Fifth Ave tends to have the best mix but they’re out of the way (though they do have pre-show ads too – they’re just a slideshow).
And wow, Lightbox membership is pricey! VIFF has a similar deal where you can purchase various different memberships with different bonuses. The’re the required $2 membership or you can opt for the $40 (what I have) which gives you $2 discount on tickets (brings price down to $8) and discount on consession. Plus no commercials and if there happens to be a trailer or two (rare), it’s OK by me. I *heart* the VIFF Centre. And they have the best programmers in town. I’ll pimp for them any day of the week.
As for reading – I commute lots. I can’t read with people’s nattering so I always listen to music. The same is true for the cinema.