Delete please

You know Theaters don't make any money from ticket sales - they have to give all of that money to the movie producers.

You'd have to have big time contracts with the movies, and that site would take a lot to custom code.

I like your idea, Kory.

I currently subscribe to Netflix and visit Hulu.com to watch movies online. However, the majority of these movies are a bit older, and none of them are new releases.

I'm sure there would be many obstacles to overcome - mainly from movie studios, theaters, etc. - but, as I said, I like the idea.

Even if you were to pay an extra dollar or two, that'd be fine with me.

One question, how could you guarantee the movies would not be copied, and distributed digitally?

All the best,
Michael

I like the idea....But and it is a BIG BUT...Unfortunately (IMHO) it will not happen The Movie industry is way too protective of their retail theater sales, heck they will not even allow simultaneous DVD releases in most cases (although I have heard some promising news on this front).

Not to bust your dream though...go for it, I have been wrong before

I'd definitely look into a dedicated server for this one.

Seriously, the movie studios have already thought of this and may try it at some point. If so, they would be partnering with major Internet companies, not a startup.

It would seem to make more sense for them to just allow cable/satellite pay-per-view on the release day... far more people would rather watch a movie on their TV than their computer, and the infrastructure is already in place for PPV.

Kory its a great idea, now just convince Warner Bro's to let you do it!

Best of luck with it all

Alex

okay, i typed 4 paragraphs but then i deleted them all.. to summarize 'em: "sorry, don't want to burst your bubble - but that won't happen."

I like the idea but also agree with the sentiment that you would have an extremely difficult time with studios and theaters.

But you could offer movies from independent filmmakers whose movies do not make it to the big theaters. I'm sure they would love to partner with you, especially if you could bring them tons of viewers.

I like your entrepreneurship spirit, reminds me of myself a few years ago...I wanted to build a social networking site that targeted a certain type of demographic. At the time, it was just too overwhelming as a "bedroom startup" and it's sad theses days as I see similar ideas now a reality...because someone had the money and I didn't.

However, I think you need to consider this:

1. Sky Tv is a multibillion pound corporation and they are probably the closest to delivering the latest films to people's homes.

Even though you're talking about NEW releases as they are actually released, I think media giants like Sky, Virgin and other traditional corps that deliver such living room services are going to be a little closer to making this a reality than you I'm afraid...

...and I would dare say that this is something that has been discussed at thousands upon thousands of high profile board meetings with such companies.

2. As already mentioned in another reply, there are several companies that would be standing in line way infront of yourself, simply because they already have a strong presence in their industry and would be set up to implement such a service.

3. I think that it's a cool idea and yes, it WOULD work. Sadly, it's not the sort of industry that you just walk off the streets and say "hey, check this out..." and not expect the entire board room to frown on you and say "urm, yes...we've been discussing this for years".

4. Apart from the astronomical start up costs, funding and partners required, you'd have to do some serious research (and I don't mean googling, I mean hundreds of thousands of pounds worth) in order to establish whether there is enough demand for average broadband users to pay to watch a movie on their significantly smaller PC/Mac monitor, at a less than perfect quality...and with very little chance of a backrow romance or popcorn war.

I love the idea esp if I could hook it up to my big screen to watch. You would have a tough time with contracts and pricing with movie theaters. But, if they made most of the money off of ticket sales and you just sold advertising space and slot like Hulu does you could make money. But the bandwidth cost would be astronomical so it would be tough to say if it would be really profitable for you or not.

Now, if you some how tied in a social aspect to it with profile, reviews, comments, ect. that would be cool.

Wow! Great idea. I like emotional movies and comedies, btw.

But you will surely put youtube out of business some day.

Just kidding!

Kory,

I generally agree that either the studios themselves or the likes of Sky would already be rolling this out if it were on the cards. I don't think it is, and for one simple reason.

If you want to see a new movie you pay PER PERSON. A family of 5 means FIVE tickets. A streaming/downloaded movie could be viewed by you, your whole family and your friends from down the street, all at the same time. Big reduction in revenue potential for the studio.

If you were to develop a piece of software or a solution that helped the studios get past the roadblocks of per person billing, duplication, bandwidth - you would have your million-dollar business.

-Mark.

Personally I love the idea... But I don't think movie theaters would allow that to happen. While we're on the topic, how much does it cost to go to a movie were you are from?

Here in Kitchener Ontario Canada it costs $15 and that's before you even get to the overpriced stale food

Mike Hill

PS. Now if you somehow got contracts to show PPV events that are sold out way in advance like the UFC fights then I think it would be killer... It gives people who don't have a PPV box to get the fights too... It would still cost the same but I think it would open up a wider part of the market.

Hi Kory.

While the idea is not original (I had the same thought about two years ago...even had a domain name "iTOD.com" for Internet Theater On Demand...but I let other people swiftly shoot the idea down for me. Doesn't mean you have to though.

This is doable, no matter what anyone says. You just have to be willing to jump through all the hoops to get it set up. I wasn't willing. Maybe you are?

Anyway, just wanted to put my two cents in on it.

Do what you feel is best for you.

Tina

Geez, I hate to sound like a wet blanket but...

Apple is already waiting in the wings for this:

Apple - Apple TV

When and if movie studios ever decide to go "live" like you've envisioned, you've got one Steve Jobs one significant step ahead of you.

Kory

Google 'Mike Belmont' or 'MdotStrange'.

Watch 'We Are The Strange' on YouTube.

:We are the Strange:

It's about one man who is taking on the movie industry, as we know it.

Good luck with your own version of this success story

All success
Dr.Mani

P.S. - I heard about Belmont in Jeff Howe's CROWDSOURCING - nice book.

Great Concept

Need to do alot of market research first and make sure you can get deals with major companies - fix legal issue illegal downloading of movies too - you'll need to invest in some programming language to fix this.

You could offer your customers a yearly charge which can be your profit and a charge per movie which gets paid to the production company.

Kory,

That has SO many holes! Problems?

1. CONTRACTS! Film companies would be shooting themselves in the foot. FORGET IT!
2. BANDWIDTH! It would cost you a FORTUNE, if you could even do it!
3. PROGRAMMING! You would need a GOOD buffering system(popular ones today STINK), and it would have to conform with DMCA requirements.
4. SUPPORT! People are CERTAIN to have problems, in their view anyway.

STEVE

If this were to happen, and that's a HUGE if; as many have already stated about how hyper sensitive the industry is being. You'd think they would have learned a lesson from the recording industry, but they didn't. I have a feeling that netflix and/or itunes would be the big players.

You can already watch your rented movies on netflix. They have a HUGE customer base already. They really should start releasing the movie to DVD at the same time it hits theaters. Think of how many people would go see it at the theater be excited about it and then go to the store and buy it. I think if they would release it to itunes at the same time, they'd make a killing.

I really don't think you'd be able to pull this off. Not trying to be a dream crusher, just the reality of the situation.

itunes rental store - hd rentals - apple tv.
done.

It's a great "think big" idea but really unsure on the practical side. I personally go to the movies to get away from my pc - but maybe it's just me!!

Obviously you have to team up with some big players. I think the technology exists already. I watched the movie "The Secret" first online (great technology, you cannot copy and can watch it only once) before buying the DVD. And it's true that "The Secret" is not a fiction nor a Hollywood production and was released only on DVD (and online). There is a segment in the industry that will find your idea good, I am sure.

I built a ten-seat movie theater in my house with an 8-foot screen (and a full snack bar with real movie theater popcorn machine and such in the theater lobby) just so I never, ever have to go to a movie theater again.

Commercial movie theaters SUCK, with a few (pricey) exceptions.

Well, I look at it this way.

Assuming you got it all set up and running, had the right connections, got it popular, what would happen?

Attendance at local theaters would certainly drop, and I'd imagine they make more from the concession stand than ticket sales. You'd probably have to have a ton of ads running before the movies, just at like the real thing.

What I'm about to say is true of most things business related. To really stand away, you need to have a USP.

A USP is a unique selling proposition, something makes you different than everyone else. Domino's had "to your door in thirty minutes or its free", Staples was one of the first business to business stores that the average consumer could use.

But, even we as people need USPs and leverage to get started.

What could you contribute to this idea, that someone like me couldn't? Do you have movie and access connections? Do you have a huge amount of capital to throw around?

When you figure stuff like that out, you go from ideas and making some money, to brilliant and dirty stinking rich.