Time Warner to offer $20-$30 premium VOD: RUFKM?

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TW Premium VOD an overpriced mess (Reuters) Time Warner is fucking nutz.  In a Reuters story, they detail Time Warner’s plans to offer ‘premium VOD,’ movies between the theatrical release and prior to DVD release, for $20-$30.  $20 to $30?  RUFKM?

It seems the more ‘digital’ of a society we become, leaving our discs and cassettes behind, the pricing of these digital delights simply continue to be overvalued.  Listen TW (can I call you TW?), it’s video on demand, not a purchase of something I have forever to watch again, like physical DVD.  Also, in case you didn’t know because you see everything at free screenings, the price of a movie ticket is around $12-$15 in most markets.  $12-$15 is less than $20-$30.  (Okay, perhaps you estimate it will be viewed by 2 people on average, but what about us bachelors who absolutely HAVE TO SEE something like 4 weeks before it’s everywhere online?)


Amazon provides my fix

image When I really need my fix, I head over to Amazon’s Video on Demand.  Generally, the day the DVD is available, I can purchase a digital copy (to have and retain for as long as Amazon and it’s successors are around) that I can watch a billion times if I want — and it’s the same price as the DVD.  Often, you can buy a BluRay and get a free digital copy.  The eventuality of all digitized movies becoming available on demand in the “world’s largest video library,” is forthcoming.  Netflix has obviously made great headway.   Companies like Universal and Disney have the majority of their content ready to go, and on their own could even launch a great on-demand purchase/rental portal.

Apple had the benefit of being first to maximize the integrated on-demand experience on an MP3 player — combined with their design for the less-than-technically-savvy individual, led to their great digital success.  I don’t use iTunes, I use Amazon Digital Downloads.  Even on my Droid X.  (Am I starting to sound like an Amazon junkie?)  I lead an Apple free life (while I silently have wanted that damned iPad for as long as I can remember… but I’m waiting for the Galaxy and other Android/Chrome delights.).

But back to Time Warner, the entertainment conglomerate emeritus.  Okay, you are cool and you can be the first to market with ‘premium VOD.’ But at the prices you intend to charge, aside from in-room rentals at hotels by travelers without a computer or smartphone, I think you’ll be quite disappointed in the harvest of your endeavors.  This pricing concept is fucking stupid.  Sorry, but it’s true.

Source:  Reuters