Cinemas threaten Disney boycott

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UK Cinema chains have threatened to ban Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland from their screens over a dispute with Disney.
The dispute with Odeon, Vue and Cineworld with Disney stems with the film's company attempt to cut the 17 week gap between the cinema and DVD release to 12 weeks. However, Odeon and Vue have already pulled all trailers and posters for their film from the cinema, while Cineworld are also said to be against the shorter window for the DVD release, reports the Guardian.

Cinema chains have already won a battle late last year, when they threatened to pull Disney's A Christmas Carol from their screens if the animated film Up was given an early DVD release. But it seems Disney are ready to play hardball this time. They've reported to have given cinema chains a 12 week take or leave it deal.
Disney's distribution chief Bob Chapek said, "We feel that it's important for us to maintain a healthy business on the exhibition side and a healthy business on the home video side. We remain committed to theatrical windows, with the need for exceptions to accommodate a shortened time frame on a case-by-case basis, such as with Disney's Alice in Wonderland."
Disney argue that the film, which is due out on March 5, will fail to attract a big cinema audience during the early summer months because of the world cup and want to shorten the theatrical window.

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Why does it really make a difference what time it comes out on DVD, anyway your opinions :)

From Yahoo! http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/12022010/...boycott-0.html

Because it means it will be in the cinemas for less time = less money.
Disney are being stupid imo.

That's less weeks for the cinemas to make money. Films make a lot more on home entertainment formats than they do in theatres, but cinemas get none of it for obvious reasons. How utterly rediculous of Disney.

I love when the system gets destroyed fair play to disney and how are disney being stupid? surely they'd make more money off selling a dvd before anyone has seen it, rather than selling the copyright to cinemas and a small minority buying the movie on dvd.

I get it now :) why are disney bothered though, people will buy more copies because of the wait :S I don't understand this buisness :P

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Originally Posted by Richie

I love when the system gets destroyed fair play to disney and how are disney being stupid? surely they'd make more money off selling a dvd before anyone has seen it, rather than selling the copyright to cinemas and a small minority buying the movie on dvd.

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Like I said, home entertainment formats make a lot more money than theatrical runs. Disney will make more money quicker by putting the film out to the home entertainment market 12 weeks after the theatrical release rather than the standard 17, but will damage the cinemas' revenue. I say the cinemas stamp their foot down and stand up for themselves, refuse Disney's 12-weeks proposition and see how Mickey Mouse enjoys a straight-to-DVD release in the UK of what would be a box office-topper.

I think this could possibly break Disney if this argument goes on. Disney will earn the same ammount if they do 17 weeks won't they? Anyway, I think if the cinemas do anything, they should send the DVD out sooner rather than later, if Disney want it that way, then surely the cinemas should give them what they deserve.

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Originally Posted by Gibs960

I think this could possibly break Disney if this argument goes on. Disney will earn the same ammount if they do 17 weeks won't they? Anyway, I think if the cinemas do anything, they should send the DVD out sooner rather than later, if Disney want it that way, then surely the cinemas should give them what they deserve.

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actually, theyre likely to make more if they were to do a 17 week run. Many people who see it at the cinema will buy it on DVD, rather than if it was a straight to DVD, they only pay to see it once (or infinity).

And what do you plan on doing when there are no cinemas around because its simply not viable to stay open?

The cinemas should not take them up on their offer and refuse to play the game. Let disney do what they want, it's likely to harm them more than they realise

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Originally Posted by Gibs960

I think this could possibly break Disney if this argument goes on. Disney will earn the same ammount if they do 17 weeks won't they? Anyway, I think if the cinemas do anything, they should send the DVD out sooner rather than later, if Disney want it that way, then surely the cinemas should give them what they deserve.

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It won't "break" Disney by any means, but if the cinemas in question stand up for themselves and refuse to release the film theatrically, their beloved Tim Burton blockbuster getting a straight-to-video release in the UK isn't going to reflect well on the company, even though they'll make more money on home entertainment formats, they'll still lose out on the theatrical $$$ and exposure and their image will be damaged.

I don't think either side are necessarily stupid for doing this. They both share an aim which is to make as much money as possible. However Disney are being unreasonable by treating an industry which they depend on (or at least used to) so much, in this way. It's not like they're desperate for a bit of quick cash.

Would small independent cinemas take the same stance do you think, or would they use it as an opportunity to grab the market? There's a cinema in Liverpool called FACT that we go to. It doesn't usually show many of the usual Hollywood blockbusters but it would be interesting to see what it does here.

Smaller cinemas might benefit, because they might agree to it and sack the rest of the cinemas.