|
IFC signs exclusivity deal with Blockbuster
IFC pacts with Blockbuster By Gregg Goldstein March 6, 2008 NEW YORK -- Blockbuster is going indie. The home video giant has inked a deal with IFC Entertainment for an exclusive 60-day window on U.S. rentals and downloads of IFC titles before they're sold, and is establishing an indie film section for new releases in around 1,000 of its 4,000 stores. Blockbuster's two-year pact also includes exclusive physical rental distribution rights for IFC titles for three years after their retail street date, which is typically six months after each film's debut. Though there's nothing to prevent standalone video stores and small urban chains from buying and renting IFC titles at that time, it's a sharp blow to these retailers, whose cineaste customers are among indie film's most passionate supporters. Many microbudgeted indies are distributed by IFC as part of its 24-27 annual releases through the day-and-date theatrical/VOD program First Take and the recently launched straight-to-VOD service Festival Direct. The two-month digital download and rental availability adds to immediate VOD rentals available on IFC parent co. Rainbow Media's cable systems. "It's hard having to economically rely on a handful of independent video stores, and this makes films available to 4,000 national stores in many areas where people don't have an arthouse or indie video store," says IFC senior vp sales and business development Lisa Schwartz. She points to the indie new release section as expanding the chain's indie film selection and supporting films from all indie distributors. There will be an indie film section in around a quarter of Blockbuster stores' new release sections, and wider distribution will vary based on individual titles. "The bulk of our films will be available in all stores," Schwartz says. Content may play a role in both the breadth of distribution and the versions of titles Blockbuster will rent. The chain does not rent NC-17 titles, and Schwartz says IFC would consider editing even unrated films for the chain, adding that "Blockbuster will decide which version they would like to distribute." Blockbuster will add special promotion of IFC titles in its stores, on its website via its by-mail subscription services and digital downloading service, Movielink.com. Some of the first available titles will be Gus Van Sant's drama "Paranoid Park"; Tom Kalin's thriller "Savage Grace," with Julianne Moore; and Christophe Honore's French-language "Dans Paris." Genius Products will continue distributing IFC DVDs for rentals and sales. Schwartz would not comment on future rental plans for Festival Direct VOD titles, but said an announcement is forthcoming. Isn't this kind of ironic? |
This is some bullshit....I wanted to see Paranoid Park badly....
|
Wow. VHS days are back again.
|
Originally Posted by chris_sc77
This is some bullshit....I wanted to see Paranoid Park badly....
|
That's too bad; I liked IFC...
|
Content may play a role in both the breadth of distribution and the versions of titles Blockbuster will rent. The chain does not rent NC-17 titles, and Schwartz says IFC would consider editing even unrated films for the chain, adding that "Blockbuster will decide which version they would like to distribute." |
Blockbuster rents unrated films. They just do not carry movies that are rated NC-17.
|
so it's fine for a film to be restored of it's NC-17 content (violence and/or sex) just as long as it has no official NC-17 - hmmm, so in theory, Blockbusters are hypocrites.
|
Wait, what? Does this mean I can't buy a title at Amazon until 60 days of rental time has passed? So if it was to be released in March I have the option of renting it from Blockbuster or waiting until May to buy it?
|
The Weinstein company did the same deal with Blockbuster - I didn't help them in the slightest - am really surprised that IFC is being this stupid.
|
Originally Posted by GizmoDVD
Wait, what? Does this mean I can't buy a title at Amazon until 60 days of rental time has passed? So if it was to be released in March I have the option of renting it from Blockbuster or waiting until May to buy it?
|
Originally Posted by Giles
so it's fine for a film to be restored of it's NC-17 content (violence and/or sex) just as long as it has no official NC-17 - hmmm, so in theory, Blockbusters are hypocrites.
Pro-B |
Does blockbuster still carry FS?
|
Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist
:up: They sure are, there are no two opinions on the subject!! But the biggest hypocrite of them all is a certain organization that is based in L.A. Because of their moral outcries you don't get to see certain films released, not because of Blockbuster.
Pro-B CARA (and the MPAA) may offices in LA, but there's also a MPAA office (and screening room/theatre) in DC. |
Originally Posted by Giles
the SS ?? ;)
Pro-B |
Wow, this is lame on so many levels:
1) Small films that are already struggling to gain an audience for DVD rental/sales are being distributed on an even more limited basis, at least for a period of time. 2) Your typical Blockbuster renter is hardly likely to be interested in small, unknown indie films. Given that, I can't see any advantage in BBV exclusivity that would gain these films a wider audience/market. And I can't see where BBV gains anything more than a negligible rental revenue on their end. 3) By the time many of these films make it to a wider sales release, at least a portion of the potential DVD buying audience that would have purchased a first week release under other circumstances may have already seen these films as rentals, thereby shrinking sales even further. So what is the upside for either IFC or BBV? |
Originally Posted by Mister Peepers
You can after the first 60 days.
This exclusive shit HAS GOT TO STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! These exclusive bonus disks stores give out with dvd's with content that should be included in the package no matter where you buy it! Exclusive special features on HD and Blu-Ray dvd's that should have been in the DVD edition! Weinstien sighing exclusive rental agreements with Blockbuster and therefore making copies of their films harder to obtain for renters! All these practices are not cool at all. Its not going to make me shop at their stores or buy from wherever just to get these things; its only going to piss me off and wait until the prices on these items lower enough to the point where I dont care if I have all the extras anymore. So (as an example) i end up paying like 5 dollars for something I would have paid 15 dollars for if there were not exclusives. |
More really bad news.
|
The answer is simple. Don't rent from Blockbuster...ever...in any way.
|
This is not a "plus" for Blockbuster. It's simply a way to try to drive away customers going to local video stores since now BBV is "indie friendly"...
Now, exclusive extras on Blu-Ray I'm fine with. ;) |
Originally Posted by RyoHazuki
Does blockbuster still carry FS?
They took a stand to stick with WS years ago. This deal with IFC is not the best thing I heard. Blockbuster, love them or hate them, is part of a dying business model. |
Has anyone heard of the "Rock the Block" Blockbuster stores?
Apparently they are now selling TVs, Blu-ray, Zunes, Games, Electronic Books, Downloads, Food, etc. They seem to think people will actually buy this stuff at Blockbuster vs. Best Buy. Love it. |
Originally Posted by The Bus
This is not a "plus" for Blockbuster. It's simply a way to try to drive away customers going to local video stores since now BBV is "indie friendly"...
Now, exclusive extras on Blu-Ray I'm fine with. ;) And while I disagree with the new exclusivity (which is why I wrote in the HD section that one of the reasons VOD will never become mass is because more and more chains will attempt to secure product by signing exclusive distro deals) trends, as they are only detrimental for the consumer at this point, I understand why IFC went for it. Pro-B |
Originally Posted by The Bus
This is not a "plus" for Blockbuster. It's simply a way to try to drive away customers going to local video stores since now BBV is "indie friendly"...
I predict that if someone wants to watch an IFC movie about gay cowboys they would rather get it from blockbuster instead of waiting a couple months to get it at a smaller local video store. I predict that some members of this forum will still be saying in 5 years how Blockbuster is still going away completely. I predict that Blockbuster will have an exclusive Star Wars set that will contain all 6 movies in HD in all their various versions including the new 3D version, Clone Wars, every Star Wars cartoon series and The Star Wars Holiday Special. This set will be only available at Blockbuster for $199.99. When you purchase it, you must also sign a contract with Blockbuster saying you will not rent movies from any other store under penalty of death.
Originally Posted by chris_sc77
Yes but I shouldn't have too.
This exclusive shit HAS GOT TO STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
Originally Posted by Mister Peepers
Go back to Russia you commie and get in line for your loaf of bread! Here in America we let businesses do deals like this because of a little thing you hate called capitalism. |
I think my local BB finally pulled "Last Tango in Paris" off their shelf because of its
NC-17 rating. But why all of a sudden has BB stopped carrying "unrated" horror like "Hatchet" and "The Rage"? Both of these dvds are available for rent in R-rated versions only yet they DO carry Rob Zombie's unrated "Halloween" and numerous other unrated DIY horror titles. There must be some big $$$ being passed around to get certain dvds on the shelf (or off!) |
Originally Posted by Mister Peepers
Go back to Russia you commie and get in line for your loaf of bread! Here in America we let businesses do deals like this because of a little thing you hate called capitalism.
|
Originally Posted by Giles
but for a corporation to decide on a film to film basis what films can and cannot be sold due to adult content and presanitized by a film censorboard - well... I call that fascism.
Blockbuster is hardly fascist because people aren't being forced to buy their product. If people didn't like it, the money would disappear and Blockbuster would either change what they offer so people will buy the goods or they'll stick with what they're doing and not make as much money as they could. If they were fascists, there would only be Blockbuster and we would get what they give us but to do that they'd have to be running the show which they aren't. It's not even a monopoly or even close to one with what they have. |
<i>Mod note: Please tone down the commie/fascist rhetoric or the thread is going to be closed. You're free to disagree w/ each other just be civil about it ;)</i>
|
| All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:19 AM. |
Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.