The companies will allow customers in South Korea to rent a film at home that's currently playing in theaters. June 24, 2013 8:05 AM PDT (Credit: Disney) Walt Disney Co. and Sony Pictures Entertainment are currently testing out a new way for consumers to watch the latest films. The companies are currently offering consumers in South Korea the opportunity to rent films in-home that are currently running in theaters. According to the Wall Street Journal, which was first to report on their move, Sony offered "Django Unchained" three weeks after it premiered in theaters. Disney's "Wreck-It Ralph" and "Brave" were also made available weeks after their theatrical releases. Film studios have for years attempted to find the right balance between getting people into theaters and appealing to an increasing number of consumers who would rather watch films in the comfort of their homes. According to the Journal, the studios believe it's too early to determine if the South Korea experiment will be applied elsewhere around the world. Related stories Behold: The first movie trailer for 'Jobs' biopic Pitch perfect: How stories are developed at Pixar The home stretch: How Pixar wrapped 'Monsters University' After Katy Perry, is dumping by text standard practice? Rdio's Vdio service now open to everyone in U.S., U.K. The U.S. might be a difficult nut for the studios to crack. Regal and AMC, the two larger theater chains in the U.S., want at least 90 days to play movies before they can be made available elsewhere. It's unlikely they'd change that policy, since they want to protect their businesses. According to the Journal, the other major studios are analyzing the experiment to see if it's something they should consider.
The companies will allow customers in South Korea to rent a film at home that's currently playing in theaters.
Walt Disney Co. and Sony Pictures Entertainment are currently testing out a new way for consumers to watch the latest films.
The companies are currently offering consumers in South Korea the opportunity to rent films in-home that are currently running in theaters. According to the Wall Street Journal, which was first to report on their move, Sony offered "Django Unchained" three weeks after it premiered in theaters. Disney's "Wreck-It Ralph" and "Brave" were also made available weeks after their theatrical releases.
Film studios have for years attempted to find the right balance between getting people into theaters and appealing to an increasing number of consumers who would rather watch films in the comfort of their homes. According to the Journal, the studios believe it's too early to determine if the South Korea experiment will be applied elsewhere around the world.
Related stories
- Behold: The first movie trailer for 'Jobs' biopic
- Pitch perfect: How stories are developed at Pixar
- The home stretch: How Pixar wrapped 'Monsters University'
- After Katy Perry, is dumping by text standard practice?
- Rdio's Vdio service now open to everyone in U.S., U.K.
The U.S. might be a difficult nut for the studios to crack. Regal and AMC, the two larger theater chains in the U.S., want at least 90 days to play movies before they can be made available elsewhere. It's unlikely they'd change that policy, since they want to protect their businesses.
According to the Journal, the other major studios are analyzing the experiment to see if it's something they should consider.
