
The Germans probably have an overwrought, seven-syllable word for extreme irony. But I’m not sure anything can do justice to Napster founder Sean Parker, arguably the founding father of internet piracy, championing a ridiculously expensive movie startup.
According to Variety, Parker is one of the founders behind Screening Room, a new startup that would bring new studio releases into people’s homes. The cost would be $150 for the secure set-top box, and $50 per movie, which would be rented for 48-hours.
This is more expensive than the ~$20 it costs for two people to see a movie in theaters. I feel duty-bound to mention that it is also infinitely mroe expensive than the no money it costs to illegally torrent a new movie off the internet, a place a feel Mr Parker might be familiar with.
For those of you who claim that Mr Parker’s initiative will reduce piracy in a Netflixian sort of way: $50 is a crapton of money for one movie, and I gently posit that giving access to new movies outside of theaters, no matter how encrypted, will see a giant surge in piracy.
It’s probably for this reason that studio executives told Deadline the plan would be “the beginning of the end” and “so damaging, I can’t tell you right now how unhappy I am”.
[Variety]
Contact the author at chris@gizmodo.com.
DISCUSSION
You guys must not have kids. For me to take my whole family to see a movie, it’s well over $50. Not to mention, if I want to go with just the wife, we have to pay for a babysitter.
And yeah, pirating is cool and all, but it usually takes a while for a decent quality version of a movie to go public. Plus, my home theater is much more comfortable.
Sure, this isn’t for everyone, and I probably won’t buy one, but I definitely see the appeal.