Time Warner To Offer Premium VOD Service
How much will you pay for instant gratification? Time Warner is hoping you'll pay $30 to $50 for the privilege of watching a new movie from home just days or weeks after it makes its debut in theaters. Big Hollywood studios and pay-TV carriers have been considering the idea of premium on-demand offerings for some time. Now, Time Warner is ready to give the idea a try.
The new service could be available as soon as this summer. During an earnings call recently, Time Warner's CEO Jeff Bewkes told investors and analysts that his company is getting close to having an agreement with distributors regarding when these premium video-on-demand offerings will be available and how much they will cost. Variety reports the movies will likely cost between $30 and $50.
Although $30 to $50 may sound like a high price to pay, especially considering you can purchase a Blu-ray title for less than that, no one ever said instant gratification comes cheap. Furthermore, if you consider the comfort of watching a movie from home, the cost of movie tickets, popcorn, and a drink as well as parking and gas for the car, the cost may not seem so unreasonable—especially if you have a few friends to split the cost with.
What are your thoughts? Would you pay a premium to watch a summer hit at home shortly after it arrives in theaters? Or does the idea sound like a rip off?
