AMC Agreement with Universal: The Future of Movie Distribution
AMC, one of the largest movie theater chains in the world, recently announced an agreement with Universal Pictures that could change the way movies are distributed in the future. The agreement allows Universal to release new movies on digital platforms just 17 days after they hit theaters, breaking the traditional 90-day exclusivity window.
This marks a significant shift in the movie distribution landscape, which has seen a lot of disruption in recent years due to the rise of streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. With more people staying home to watch movies, theaters have been struggling to stay relevant. The COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated this trend, with theaters closed for extended periods and movie releases delayed.
Under the new agreement, Universal can release its movies on premium video-on-demand (PVOD) platforms after just 17 days in theaters, instead of the traditional 90-day exclusivity window. AMC will receive an undisclosed share of the PVOD revenue, which is expected to be much higher than the revenue from traditional theatrical releases.
This is a significant step forward for Universal, which has been pushing for shorter exclusivity windows for a long time. By releasing movies on PVOD platforms earlier, Universal hopes to reach a wider audience and generate more revenue. The company has already seen success with this strategy during the pandemic, with movies like Trolls World Tour and The King of Staten Island releasing on PVOD platforms and generating significant revenue.
For AMC, the deal represents a way to stay relevant in the changing movie distribution landscape. By embracing new distribution models, the company can continue to offer a unique experience to moviegoers while also generating revenue from PVOD releases. It`s a win-win situation for both parties, and it could pave the way for similar agreements between studios and theater chains in the future.
However, not everyone is happy about the agreement. Other theater chains have criticized AMC for “caving in” to Universal`s demands and breaking the traditional exclusivity window. Some analysts have also warned that this could lead to a fragmentation of the movie distribution market, with each studio striking its own deals with theater chains and PVOD platforms.
Despite the criticism, the AMC agreement with Universal represents a significant step forward for the movie industry. It shows that both studios and theaters are willing to adapt to changing consumer habits and embrace new distribution models. Whether this will lead to a major shift in the industry remains to be seen, but for now, it`s a positive sign for movie lovers and industry insiders alike.