Films Hitting TV Before They Hit Theaters?Broadband video hater Mark Cuban tries something different... 01:19PM Wednesday Mar 26 2008 by Karltags: Video · business · alternatives · contentUsually, Dallas Mavericks owner and HDNet CEO Mark Cuban is busy trying to convince advertisers that broadband video is going nowhere. While his arguments don't always make sense, he has been willing to be progressive when it comes to entertainment business models, and this week has announced that his HDNet channel is showing a new Hollywood film two days before it hits theaters: On Wednesday 3/26/2008 at 9pm (and again at 11:30pm) EDT, a full length sneak preview the PG-13 fictional crime/drama movie titled "Flawless" with Demi Moore and Michael Caine about a diamond heist in 1960 London is to debut on HDNet Movies 2 days before, yes before, it even hits theaters in the United States. When news surfaced that Comcast was tinkering with the idea of offering video on demand titles the same day they hit theaters, theater owners started to complain that it would take the " magic" out of $10 popcorn and sticky floors. As an aside, Cuban is also a theater owner, and tinkers with new ideas on that front as well. Of course they all still need to compete with piracy, and you'll note that "Flawless" has been on torrent trackers for months. Related:- Cable's Answer to AppleTV?
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  Skeedatl To Provoke and Annoy Premium join:2007-12-26 Laguna Hills, CA edit: March 26th, @01:23PM
| He should pay more attention to the HDNets 'Cause they suck and are a total waste of bandwidth. | |
|  |   tiger72 NexaT duorP Premium join:2001-03-28 Kansas City, MO clubs:
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: He should pay more attention to the HDNets i take it you have a horrible HDTV, or don't have a DVR.
I'm quite happy with the HDNets - particularly HDNet Movies and the high quality transfers (and high bitrate content), and their weekly 1 hour world news report. Not the Dan Rather one, but the good one right after that. -- "What makes us omniscient? Have we a record of omniscience? ...If we can't persuade nations with comparable values of the merit of our cause, we'd better reexamine our reasoning." -United States Secretary of Defense (1961-1968) Robert S. McNamara | |
|  |  |  |  |   imrf Premium join:2002-06-06 Utica, MI | You must have never watched the HD Nets, because they are great channels. | |
|  |  |   Skeedatl To Provoke and Annoy Premium join:2007-12-26 Laguna Hills, CA | Re: He should pay more attention to the HDNets I've seen them and they suck. | |
|  |  |  |   imrf Premium join:2002-06-06 Utica, MI
·WOW Internet and C..
| Re: He should pay more attention to the HDNets said by Skeedatl :I've seen them and they suck. Right. 
Well I've had them for years and still think the programming is good, especially HD Net Movies. Very few channels that air movies leave the movies in their OAR. What channel do you think is vastly superior to the HD Nets? | |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |   imrf Premium join:2002-06-06 Utica, MI
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| Re: He should pay more attention to the HDNets said by Skeedatl : If I want tired recycled movies I'd pick Universal HD over HDNet movies. And right there shows your ignorance as to the HD Net Movies schedule.
Please you are going to compare channels that have highly acclaimed original series like The Shield, BSG, Rescue Me and the Riches to the recycled crap on HDNet? Highly acclaimed by who? Those shows all sucked.
The crap Mojo (formerally INHD) and the Voom networks are better than HDNet. lol... you wish. MOJO sucks big time. HD Net has the shuttle launches in HD which blows away anything that MOJO could ever think of. | |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |   Skeedatl To Provoke and Annoy Premium join:2007-12-26 Laguna Hills, CA
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edit: March 26th, @03:23PM
| Re: He should pay more attention to the HDNets Yep, I'm ignorant.
The Shield Highly acclaimed by who?
Try multiple Emmy wins for best series, best actor, best actress, best directing, best writing.
Try multiple Golden Globe wins for best series, best actor, best actress.
Rescue Me, acclaimed by who?
Multiple Emmy nominations for best actor, best directing, best writing.
Golden Globe nomination for best series.
Nip/Tuck acclaimed by who?
Multiple Emmy nominations and wins for outstanding art direction, makeup, casting, music.
Golden Globe for best series and nominations for best actor and actress in a series.
Battlestar Galactica
Emmy win for outstanding effects, nominations for writing and directing.
Yep, they all suck. Mark Cuban wishes he sucked that much.
Great, shuttle launches played 70 times in a row in HD are worth it. The last one showed 70 times in a row was certainly worth noting, especially when the pad was obscured by cloud cover and the narrators wouldn't shut the hell up during the launch.
If they gave Golden Globes for sucking ass, Mark Cuban would win every year. | |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |   imrf Premium join:2002-06-06 Utica, MI
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| Re: He should pay more attention to the HDNets Grammy nominations don't mean crap. The shows are still boring and there is a reason why they aren't on prime time on popular channels. They have no viewers.
said by Skeedatl :Great, shuttle launches played 70 times in a row in HD are worth it. The last one showed 70 times in a row was certainly worth noting, especially when the pad was obscured by cloud cover and the narrators wouldn't shut the hell up during the launch. You really need to learn how to read and count. They aren't shown multiple times in a row, and neither is any of the other programming on HD Net. And it is 100% obvious that you didn't see the last launch, since it was done at night and had absolutely no visibility problems. Keep digging. I'm done feeding the troll. | |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  rgillis70 Premium join:2002-12-30 Herndon, VA
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| Re: He should pay more attention to the HDNets said by imrf :Grammy nominations don't mean crap. The shows are still boring and there is a reason why they aren't on prime time on popular channels. They have no viewers. Not quite. Most of those shows did not want to have to cut content to the standards of network television. Same reason the sopranos was on HBO.
Of course viewership is lower on FX- SciFi. Same as HBO will never touch Seinfeld ratings.
The shows he mentioned are excellent. I do not pretend to enjoy all of them, but most have character development and writing that blows away anything on network television.
Of course - I disagree with him too, i like HDNet movies. But BSG and The Shield ... I wish more shows could write stories and have performances like those. | |
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edit: March 26th, @04:23PM
| Re: He should pay more attention to the HDNets Grammy, emmy, who cares. Lame awards anyways. They are never given out to the people, shows or whatever that truly deserve. But you go ahead and hug those awards, while watching all the reruns of those "great" shows you so enjoy. I won't be missing anything by not having the stations that air them. But I will continue to enjoy my HD Nets.
And I guess you didn't see the last night shuttle launch.. I sure did, and didn't have any problems seeing it launch.  Maybe if the site you linked had a better video source you could have seen it better. But as usual, HD Net did a fantastic job. | |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  moonpuppy
join:2000-08-21 Glen Burnie, MD
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| said by imrf :Grammy nominations don't mean crap. The shows are still boring and there is a reason why they aren't on prime time on popular channels. They have no viewers. Care to explain the Sopranos? They weren't on prime time and they had very high ratings. Enough to have half the country in an uproar over the ending.
The cable company used to have their own award show (Cable ACE) and they got rid of those when they started taking the Emmys.
Try again. | |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |   imrf Premium join:2002-06-06 Utica, MI
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| Re: He should pay more attention to the HDNets said by moonpuppy :Care to explain the Sopranos? They weren't on prime time and they had very high ratings. Word of mouth. So it because popular, the others didn't get the same kind of draw. I find it hard to believe that you couldn't have figured that one out.  | |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  moonpuppy
join:2000-08-21 Glen Burnie, MD
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| Re: He should pay more attention to the HDNets said by imrf :Word of mouth. So it because popular, the others didn't get the same kind of draw. I find it hard to believe that you couldn't have figured that one out. Actually, you are wrong. HBO went on a MASSIVE advertising spree with them. They even delayed seasons (unlike the national networks) and people still came and watched.
Right now, even the free networks are begging to show edited versions of cable shows (Dexter on CBS, Battlestar Galactica on NBC, etc.) Not all good shows are on the major networks.
In fact, network television is extremely mad over the fact you can get away with a lot more on cable and even more on pay cable like HBO and Showtime. T&A sells and can't show much even after 10PM.
BTW, Emmy nominations and awards sell ad spots. | |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |   imrf Premium join:2002-06-06 Utica, MI
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| Re: He should pay more attention to the HDNets said by moonpuppy :Actually, you are wrong. HBO went on a MASSIVE advertising spree with them. Actually, you are wrong. In the very beginning it was all word of mouth. HBO did little to sell the show, they let the fans do it. They only started to delay season at the very end of the run because more and more people tuned out because it was getting crappy, and then they started to advertise the hell out of it. | |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  moonpuppy
join:2000-08-21 Glen Burnie, MD
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| Re: He should pay more attention to the HDNets said by imrf :Actually, you are wrong. In the very beginning it was all word of mouth. HBO did little to sell the show, they let the fans do it. They only started to delay season at the very end of the run because more and more people tuned out because it was getting crappy, and then they started to advertise the hell out of it. Really? I remember you couldn't look at any HBO channel without seeing another ad for the Sopranos. After those Emmy wins, people really started coming out. They won 4 Emmys in their first year. | |
|  Scoot_NJ
join:2007-09-25 Budd Lake, NJ
| Not a "First"! "The Pirates of Penzance" was shown before it opened in theaters on Warner's "QUBE" system. The hue and cry from N.A.T.O. was huge, but the film flopped on it's own.
T.C.I. cable was going to do this a few years ago with Carralco, Sly Stallone's company, showing flicks on a special channel before a theatrical debut. Went nowhere.
I am guessing that cuban is the producer of this, like the horrendous "redacted", thus controls any manner of distribution. | |
|  |   MrMaster What If Premium join:2000-12-16 Austin, TX clubs:
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| Re: Not a "First"! said by Scoot_NJ :T.C.I. cable was going to do this a few years ago with Carralco, Sly Stallone's company, showing flicks on a special channel before a theatrical debut. Went nowhere. Wow, I completely forgot about TCI! It has been many years since I heard of that. Thanks for reminding me I'm old! | |
|   Shrapnel64 Premium join:2001-01-24 Hayes, VA
·Verizon Online DSL
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| Comcast Idea Makes Sense... Call me lazy, but personally, I would much rather pay for the movie via video on demand and watch it from the comfort of my own home, on my own television than I would go to a movie theatre, pay 50 bucks to see the film (including popcorn and a drink for 2), and be pissed off because some guy in the back is loud and obnoxious.
In the comfort of my own home, I can watch the movie, hopefully have the ability to pause the movie in case I need to take a break for whatever reason (assuming I have a DVR), and be able to enjoy more films.
Bottom line: What's the cost of being able to do this? If I'm going to pay $30 to see the movie at home, I might as well pay the extra money at the movie theatre and get a true surround sound system going and experience the movie on a much larger scale. | |
|  |  jc100
join:2002-04-10
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: Comcast Idea Makes Sense... You forgot about going to the movie where the idiots got to play with their cell phones or talk on them. I seriously wish the ushers would take that cell phone and smack them upside the head with them. Nothing worse than people yapping away or keeping their phone on during a movie. At least if you are home, you can control your movie experience. | |
|  |   sapo916 Your face is a cancer of ugliness. Premium join:2002-09-16 Sacramento, CA | Agreed, my home theater system is better than my theaters system anyway. Plus I always have perfect seats. -- One bullet can change everything. | |
|   Jwobot
join:2002-08-14 Utica, MI | Make it happen! This is a great idea in watching a new released movie from your own home instead of going to the movie theater. There is a huge lack of public transportation in this country, which makes it hard for people to get to the theaters. | |
|  |   clrankin Proud Conservative Republican Premium join:2002-03-05 Purcellville, VA
| Re: Make it happen! said by Jwobot :This is a great idea in watching a new released movie from your own home instead of going to the movie theater. There is a huge lack of public transportation in this country, which makes it hard for people to get to the theaters. ...but large parking lots at the theaters. Hence, I take my SUV.  -- Some terrorists don't wear rags on their head, go without showers for weeks, and smell like camel crap. Instead they live in America and support Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for president. | |
|   torrentor
@comcast.net
from: MagMan 
| Yeah i saw this torrent.. In november or something... actually it was on joox for u to stream for free. ah i miss stage6
i didnt watch it was too busy watching(streaming) all the academy award type movies.
Streaming is not illegal ... distributing is! Thankfully all this quote unquote piracy is forcing old business models to fall.
Thank goodness for the piratebay and all their efforts! They are pioneers! | |
|  Sammer
join:2005-12-22 Pittsburgh, PA | Straight to Video Someone needs to admit that these are really straight to video or made for TV quality rather than true theatrical releases. If the best motion pictures are treated like this the movie theaters will quickly go out of business. | |
|  battleop
join:2005-09-28 00000 | Why? Do we continue to pay attention to Mark Cuban? | |
|  Gilitar
join:2000-11-20 Mobile, AL | Why go to the movies? I very rarely ever go to the movie theater anymore. With a plasma and surround sound what's the point? | |
|  |   dvd536 as Mr. Pink as they come Premium join:2001-04-27 Phoenix, AZ
| Re: Why go to the movies? said by Gilitar :I very rarely ever go to the movie theater anymore. With a plasma and surround sound what's the point? no sticky floors no inconsiderate insulting pups chatting on their cellphones while you're trying to hear the movie. no second mortgage on your house to finance concessions. -- You can never be too rich, too thin or have too much Bandwidth | |
|   Jwobot
join:2002-08-14 Utica, MI
·WOW Internet and C..
| Times change said by Sammer :Someone needs to admit that these are really straight to video or made for TV quality rather than true theatrical releases. If the best motion pictures are treated like this the movie theaters will quickly go out of business. Record/CD stores having been going out of business over the past years due to mp3's and the method's of obtaining mp3's Legally. | |
|  DJ_Kismuth
join:2001-11-25 Chicago, IL
| Theaters Are Always Better The people on this site need to get out and socialize more. I go to the movies all the time and never have problems with sticky floors or noisy patrons, at least here in downtown Chicago.
AND, besides, no home theater can match the true quality of FILM.
NONE OF YOU have a 35mm projector in your living rooms. Film quality easily runs circles around any 1080p LCD or Plasma TV. | |
|  |  See 12 replies to this post | |
 djkevy
join:2000-10-23 Skokie, IL edit: March 26th, @07:04PM
| On PPV "Flawless" is showing on Dish Network PPV right now, that is, if you wanna pay $9.99 for it. | |
|   NJxxxJon something good. or your mom. Premium join:2005-10-22 00000 | Driving Gas sucks these days so why not!  | |
|  |   Pashune Your average, anemic person. Premium join:2006-04-14 Gautier, MS
·AT&T Southeast
| Re: Driving said by NJxxxJon :Gas sucks these days so why not! Valid point made.
=x Then again...in my opinion, the movie theater has always been a star place for couples to retreat...
Just an opinion. -- I have achieved 3 meg , fastpath sync on a 15,700 ft. 26 ga copper line. =] | |
|   GlobalMind Domino Dude, POWER Systems Guy Premium join:2001-10-29 Hollywood, FL | Hey, lame-o! Upon reflection, this thread involves Mark Cuban and therefore is not worthy of my attention.
Take me back! | |
|  |   Mr Kentucky
@windstream.net
| Good idea
@Article
I like the idea of having movies same day or before they come to the theater via Broadband.
Personally I have always had bad experiences going to the movies. People talking, sticky floors, cell phones ringing, brats throwing things, having to use the rest room at the worse possible time during the movie(At home you can pause).(Wondering why brats are watching a movie that has mature adult content to begin with?)Ah the joys of a public place...
I would much rather watch a new movie from the comfort of home. The sooner this happens the better. Do I really care if brick and mortar Movie rental places go out of business, no,(Neither does net flix) do I care about theaters, no. I mean look at Drive-Ins, there basically Extinct.(via theaters-A better product-)(Where I live, the Drive In was re-opened for some nostalgic reasons..)
Were at a point where a Home theater can actually happen with some hard work and saving, and some small sacrifice(That can possible be networked with your pc). And Hollywood, or rather I guess I should say, the major studios that produce these movies need to get there sorry asses up to speed, get with the program. It will happen. They can either be leading or behind so to say. I read something about Netflix teaming up with Xbox360 to bring more movie downloads I guess..
Netflix is ahead of the game so to say. They are looking down the road and see what consumers want and where things are headed. There not fighting this new way of doing things, there working constructively so they can benefit/profit from it. That's good business sense I would imagine.
Everything seems to be moving toward digital distribution. Of course this is my humble opinion. I look forward to this happening at a quicker pace. 
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|   RSkrodzki
@rogers.com | Caps will Kill Hehe well this wont matter for too long, at least not up here in Canada, with all the ISP's enforcing caps people may just not be willing to cough up the bandwidth LOL. | |
|  |   Mr Kentucky
@windstream.net
| Re: Caps will Kill said by RSkrodzki :
Hehe well this wont matter for too long, at least not up here in Canada, with all the ISP's enforcing caps people may just not be willing to cough up the bandwidth LOL. Yeah, that's what happens when a company spends the money it has for re-investing in it's infrastructure for something else.
But a lot of ISPs would rather take every step they can, so they do not have to re-invest money back into there business. (at least it seems that way) Take for instance advertising. Huge cost. Everyone knows the best kind of advertising is viral. (Word of mouth) If you have a good service, word of mouth will do it for you. What I mean on this, is less advertising cost, more money into upgrades, repairs. etc
The only thing I can hope for is that more competition comes available. Which I believe this will happen, in 20 more years. Because we have a nation thats just now growing on what we call "broadband" which in some parts it really is that.. in other parts. *my location* its a joke. But once this young generation gets into technology/communication businesses and gain more control/capital, then well see more things come about for the better. Because these young business people will have walked in our shoes so to say.
All the people that have any money, ie rich baby boomers,look at technology as a scary thing. So they don't really invest in it. Its an unknown. But once this younger generation that was raised on it, gets some financial backing. Well probably start to see a better "connection to the web" at a faster build out rate. | |
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