Sony to Offer Film on Internet TV, Then DVD [New York Times]
Could the days of movie distribution on physical media be numbered? Sony has revealed plans to release the hit animated feature "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" via the Internet to viewers with a Sony Internet-connected television or Blu-ray player. The online release will take place a full month before the DVD and Blu-ray disc are are available on retailers' shelves. The release is an experiment to determine the viability of releasing movies online and, at the same time, not harming the profitability of DVD and Blu-ray sales.
Even though the movie will be released online a month prior to DVD sales, it's priced at $24.95, well above the average cost of a DVD. The results of this experiment will likely guide future Sony releases, and may offer guidance to other studios looking at the potential for online releases. Sony has indicated that in the future, the PlayStation 3, Sony's game console, may become a platform for online movies.
"Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" will be available for viewing online to customers with Sony televisions and Blu-ray players starting on December 8th.
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