Apple Inc., which announced the launch of the streaming video market, plans that movie films will be available for rent in movie theaters before appearing on its streaming service Apple TV +, writes The Wall Street Journal.
According to the newspaper, the company has already begun negotiations with cinema chains and representatives of the film industry. Apple hopes that the traditional approach, in which films are rented for several weeks before appearing in a streaming service, will allow it to attract leading directors and producers, as well as avoid the problem that another service in the film industry created – Netflix, sources say.
In the case of Netflix, films purchased or released by a company usually become available on its streaming service on the same day they are rented to movie theaters. In this regard, the company loses access to leading events in the film industry, participation in which usually suggests that the film should not appear on the Internet within three months after the debut.
For example, in the case of the drama “Irishman” directed by Martin Scorsese, which is due to appear on Netflix on November 27, 2019, the service’s negotiations with movie theaters failed due to the parties’ inability to agree on the exclusive right to show this film.
Meanwhile, Apple plans to use the strategy pursued by Amazon.com Inc., which came to this market in 2015 and uses a rolling window lasting from two weeks to three months.
Among Apple’s first major movie premieres is Sophia Coppola’s film, On Rocks, featuring Rashida Jones and Bill Murray. Apple plans that the film will be released in mid-2020, possibly after the premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, sources say. This film is produced by Apple in conjunction with the A24 movie studio, with which the company agreed on a multi-year partnership in 2018.
Sources say that Apple is currently more interested in creating a brand, which can provide it with movie rental in prestigious movie theaters than in generating revenue.
The streaming service Apple TV + will start operating on November 1 in 100 countries, and at the initial stage it will offer users only its own television shows. The appearance of access to feature films will increase the attractiveness of the service, experts say.
Via | WSJ