When it comes to saving The Killing from cancellation, nothing would surprise us. The show may have ended its run the least watched of all of AMC’s five scripted programs, but it still managed to float on or above the 0.4 18-49 mark which is good enough to push the show somewhere else. This begged the question as to whether or not anyone other than Netflix would really be interested in adopting such a hit or miss serialized program and we now have our answer.
In addition to Netflix, DirecTV has entered into early talks with Fox Television to renew The Killing for a third season. That’s right, there are two potentially suiters for the crime drama and both have deep pockets. The clear front runner of the two is Netflix as the streaming service has made it their mission to get as much quality scripted content as possible and their mandate specifically calls for a week-to-week program such as this. Continue Reading
It would certainly appear to be Viacom’s fault after all in regards to their DirecTV carriage dispute. Earlier in the week, the public heard that the company behind MTV, Nickelodeon, and Comedy Central was essentially creating the problem with a mandate on the bundling of Epix into the equation. If initial reports are correct, DirecTV won out and Epix will not be part of pay television packages in the future (at least for DirecTV.) The movie channel would have added additional costs to the satellite provider and ultimately the consumer would have to pay out more without much choice in the matter. Continue Reading
In perhaps proving DirecTV’s point, The Daily Show ran a segment last night where they criticized the satellite provider and Viacom for not coming to terms on rates for the foreseeable future. The result of this dispute was that channels like MTV, Comedy Central, and Nickelodeon were all pulled from the packager’s cable lineup—something that Jon Stewart found simply ridiculous.
The point the news-skewer took with last night’s show is that there are bigger fish to fry in the world over viewership of Jersey Shore and even his program. He said that if people want to see The Daily Show that badly, they will probably be able to get it for free over the internet no matter what Viacom does and that his parent company’s move to pull online content made no sense. Stewart also made the point that other shows exist on a 100+ channel lineup so any real impact on consumers would likely be short-lived. Continue Reading
Exclusive programming is a growing trend in the industry of content distribution, and today’s news should serve only to throw more fuel on the fire. DirecTV has picked up an original drama call Rogue that will star Crash star Thandle Newton. Continue Reading
There is news today that Starz has renewed its distribution deal with DirecTV which is not exactly noteworthy information in itself; however, the details surrounding it exists as a prime example of cable content’s continued migration online for distribution through a variety of internet-based platforms. Starz will now allow DirecTV’s customers access to its Starz Online and Encore Online services–both of which are similar to HBO GO in that they each will provide a deep library of the networks’ past and present content beyond that of an on-demand channel. This of course will be accessible through smart television interfaces and mobile devices. Mobile is the ‘sexy’ term in the industry right now as it is a growing sector of entertainment consumption in both the film and movies industries, and even though big studios would prefer that everyone ‘stick to the living room’ things are progressing very quickly in the world of internet distribution rights.
It was not always this way. Just last year there were legal dust-ups when Time Warner and other cable companies started to jump the gun on such offerings without the consent of their business partners, but it now appears as if providers and media conglomerates have discovered that it is in their own best interests to get this thing going. Capitalistic competition is certainly in the driver’s seat as many young and low-income subscribers have been seeing Netflix as an alternative rather than a supplement to cable. Cord cutting remains a fear, and offering more content more easily on more devices is seen as the best way to combat this problem.
Read on for the full press release.
El Segundo, Calif. and Englewood, Colo. – April 16, 2012– Starz Entertainment, LLC, and DIRECTV, announced today that the companies have entered into a multi-platform distribution agreement extension. The new deal provides for DIRECTV to continue to offer the Starz Entertainment premium channels, HD, and on-demand services, and grants DIRECTV the rights to offer STARZ ONLINE and ENCORE ONLINE services on its DIRECTV Everywhere service, which is currently in beta, for its authenticated STARZSuper Pack subscribers. In addition, the agreement enables DIRECTV to launch MOVIEPLEX, INDIEPLEX, and RETROPLEX, and the related MOVIEPLEX ON DEMAND and MOVIEPLEX ONLINE service on DIRECTV Everywhere.
DIRECTV offers 15 STARZ and ENCORE channels, with eight in high definition for its STARZ Super Pack subscribers, in addition to the STARZ ON DEMAND and ENCORE ON DEMAND services. DIRECTV’s STARZ ON DEMAND and ENCORE ON DEMAND services – and STARZ ONLINE and ENCORE ONLINE on DIRECTV Everywhere – offer about 600 top movies, originals, and TV programming per month. The MOVIEPLEX on-demand and online services will add about an additional 200 titles once launched.
Financial terms and other deal specifics were not disclosed.
“We are pleased that the STARZ and ENCORE premium channels and service are a part of our DIRECTV Everywhere platform” said Derek Chang, executive vice president, Content Strategy and Development, DIRECTV. “Providing our STARZ Super Pack subscribers with online access to their subscription content from Starz through DIRECTV Everywhere later this year will bring even more value to our customers.”
“DIRECTV and Starz have a long, symbiotic relationship going back to the early 1990s, and I am very pleased that we are able to extend and expand our existing business relationship,” said Ed Huguez, president of affiliate distribution for Starz Entertainment. “With great movies, ‘Spartacus,’ and ‘Magic City,’ the value proposition for subscribing to our multi-platform premium programming has never been better.”
DirecTV actually has a pretty good commercial running right now featuring former Two and a Half Men star Charlie Sheen. It is good to know Charlie’s getting work now outside of his upcoming FX comedy Anger Management; however, we shall continue to wait until the reviews for the actor’s new sitcom come out in June before we call this a full blown comeback.
DirecTV has just signed an interesting deal to distribute Mel Gibson’s next feature, Get the Gringo–a movie about a man who finds himself in a hardcore Mexican prison complete with the level of violence one has grown to expect from an action flick starring the actor. How it will all go down is the interesting part. DirecTV subscribers will have the exclusive ability to watch the Gibson-financed film as early as May 1 for $10.99 per viewing. Soon after that, it is scheduled for a Blu-ray/DVD release.
Do not expect this one to get your typical direct to DVD treatment as a national marketing plan is expected to promote Get the Gringo.
The pay-TV party is officially over, or at least in the interim. Due to the struggling economy, young Americans continue to avoid cable television as they simply use the internet to get their fix through streaming options online. Over 200,000 are suspected to be shaved off the 100.8 million paying subscribers nationwide (as reported in September) by the end of next year, and the industry is fearing the worst. Continue Reading
This is just a courtesy announcement to those of you who happen to be DirecTV subscribers. Fox and DirecTV have reached an agreement so there will be no black out of channels. This was always assumed to go down to the wire here, but a deal was never really in doubt of occurring.
While few people watch Damages now that it is on DirecTV, that does not change the fact that the show is still high quality scripted television. Actors are attracted to great content and that is probably why Ryan Phillippe will be on the next season of Damages for a ten-episode story arc as a ‘Julianne Assange’-type character. Continue Reading
Several directors, including James Cameron (Avatar, Titanic) and Michael Bay (Transformers), have signed an open letter denouncing DirecTV’s new video-on-demand service that enables people to view movies in the home for $29.99 a mere 60-days after theatrical release.
Just a quick update on the on-going fallout from the theater owners/studio execs feud. AMC Theaters have announced their desire for a bigger share of the revenue it gets from movie ticket sales.
For those who aren’t “in the know,” Warner, FOX, Sony, and Universal are offering new release movies 60-days after their theatrical debuts on video-on-demand for DirecTV subscribers. This of course is making theater owners upset because they’re afraid that this will hurt their attendance numbers (impacting concession sales which is where they make most their money). Since then, both Regal Entertainment and Cinemark Entertainment announced plans to fight back by running fewer trailers for the studios involved.
Read more for the full press release.
AMC Theatres®: Company Statement Regarding Premium Video-On-Demand
We at AMC feel movie theatres are a critically important business to many parties: the 200+ million guests we host year after year who choose to view films on the large screen; the communities of which our theatres are an integral part; the artists who create the movies we show; and ultimately the entertainment industry for which our theatres generate the highest quality source of revenue.
We believe the theatrical experience has a bright future, and we are aggressively investing to prepare for it. We are in the midst of a multi-year, multi-million dollar rollout of digital projection and 3D, IMAX and our own proprietary ETX format. We are also introducing a new guest rewards program, better-for-you items, enhanced food and beverage offerings, dine-in theatre options and alternative, engaging programming for our guests to enjoy in our comfortable, state-of-the-art auditoriums. All activities we are currently engaged in have common goals – to increase attendance at our theatres and maintain the health of our industry.
The p-VoD world as currently defined threatens that health. As such, we have notified studios of our expectations regarding economic arrangements on movies that go p-VoD. It is not wise to discuss details in the press, and Company policy precludes it, but as these windows shrink and threaten our industry’s future, it is only logical to expect AMC to adapt its economic model.
The future is bright, even as it promises to be different, and we look forward to the success that lies ahead for all parties.
About AMC Entertainment Inc.
AMC Entertainment Inc. delivers distinctive and affordable movie-going experiences in 361 theatres with 5,203 screens across the United States and Canada. The company operates 24 of the 50 highest grossing theatres in the country, including the top three. AMC has propelled industry innovation and continues today by delivering premium sight and sound, enhanced food and beverage and diverse content. www.AMCTheatres.com.
When it comes to saving The Killing from cancellation, nothing would surprise us. The show may have ended its run the least watched of all of AMC’s five scripted programs, but it still managed to float on or above the 0.4 18-49 mark which is good enough to push the show somewhere else. This begged the question as to whether or not anyone other than Netflix would really be interested in adopting such a hit or miss serialized program and we now have our answer.
It would certainly appear to be Viacom’s fault after all in regards to their DirecTV carriage dispute. Earlier in the week, the public heard that the company behind MTV, Nickelodeon, and Comedy Central was essentially creating the problem with a mandate on the bundling of Epix into the equation. If initial reports are correct, DirecTV won out and Epix will not be part of pay television packages in the future (at least for DirecTV.) The movie channel would have added additional costs to the satellite provider and ultimately the consumer would have to pay out more without much choice in the matter. 
Exclusive programming is a growing trend in the industry of content distribution, and today’s news should serve only to throw more fuel on the fire. DirecTV has picked up an original drama call Rogue that will star Crash star Thandle Newton. 
DirecTV actually has a pretty good commercial running right now featuring former Two and a Half Men star Charlie Sheen. It is good to know Charlie’s getting work now outside of his upcoming FX comedy Anger Management; however, we shall continue to wait until the reviews for the actor’s new sitcom come out in June before we call this a full blown comeback.
DirecTV has just signed an interesting deal to distribute Mel Gibson’s next feature, Get the Gringo–a movie about a man who finds himself in a hardcore Mexican prison complete with the level of violence one has grown to expect from an action flick starring the actor. How it will all go down is the interesting part. DirecTV subscribers will have the exclusive ability to watch the Gibson-financed film as early as May 1 for $10.99 per viewing. Soon after that, it is scheduled for a Blu-ray/DVD release.
The pay-TV party is officially over, or at least in the interim. Due to the struggling economy, young Americans continue to avoid cable television as they simply use the internet to get their fix through streaming options online. Over 200,000 are suspected to be shaved off the 100.8 million paying subscribers nationwide (as reported in September) by the end of next year, and the industry is fearing the worst. 
While few people watch Damages now that it is on DirecTV, that does not change the fact that the show is still high quality scripted television. Actors are attracted to great content and that is probably why Ryan Phillippe will be on the next season of Damages for a ten-episode story arc as a ‘Julianne Assange’-type character. 
Just a quick update on the on-going fallout from the theater owners/studio execs feud. AMC Theaters have announced their desire for a bigger share of the revenue it gets from movie ticket sales.