On-demand movies to premiere on cable

Cable operators who lengthy for exclusive offers of recent films with video-on-demand are becoming their wish, kind of.

Inside a VOD milestone, a sizable producer of made-for-TV movies — RHI Entertainment — today will unveil a slate of 24 productions to premiere on VOD through mid-2008.

The flicks, designed for about $3 million each, will not be blockbusters. Stars from the science-fiction, action-drama and ladies-in-risk tales includes Judd Nelson, Gary Busey and Marilu Henner.

"We are attempting to put something unique within the VOD world," states RHI Entertainment Boss Robert Halmi Junior. They'll stick out because cable presently "will get the worst product" from Hollywood.

This is a sore point for cable. Comcast, for just one, wants VOD discharge of theatrical movies within 24 hours they open in multiplexes — charging customers around $50 per VOD showing.

Hollywood has opposed it does not wish to anger theater proprietors. Many independent films, however, open in theaters as well as on VOD concurrently.

IFC Films, possessed by Cablevision's Rainbow Media, releases about two movies per month this way, for around $5 per showing. They are doing it because films like the Wind That Shakes the Barley, a Golden Palm champion in the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, "would not happen to be observed in Dubuque, Des Moines, St. Louis and Ontario been with them not been for VOD," Rainbow Boss Joshua Sapan states.

Operators have stored quiet about handles RHI. Time Warner Cable offered a number of its movies in April. Cablevision and Vibrant House began recently.

Cox will begin in September. Halmi needs to possess Comcast, the greatest, yet others signed through the finish of the season.

A feature: RHI movies have been in high-definition in addition to standard. "We presently offer high-definition movies within 1 / 2 of our systems and intend to unveil high-def to any or all within the next month approximately," states Bob Nocera, Cox Communications' marketing mind for brand new video services. High-definition films from RHI "will let us to boost that assortment."

About $ 30 million cable customers get VOD, and Halmi needs as much as 400,000 to see each film in the 90-day run. Prices vary by system, but typically are about $4 (split by RHI and also the operator) for limitless viewing for 72 hrs.

"Television is funded today as numerous small sales around the globe,Inch Halmi states. "Whenever we are able to look for a revenue stream that comprises 10% (from the budget) or greater, this is a great factor. We actually think VOD may be one of individuals."

Following the VOD run, RHI's films will sell on iTunes, then display on cable's SciFi Funnel, Spike and lifelong. That'll be then Dvd disks, ad-supported streams on world wide web.rhitv.com, broadcasts on ION Television and foreign sales.

"There will be three versions from the films," Halmi states. For VOD and DVD, "it's much more of an R-ranked version," although films will not be formally indexed by the film industry board that rates theatrical films.

Halmi adds: "There is a version for U.S. broadcast, that is much much softer. And there is a level much softer version for worldwide TV. That like sex and hate violence. Here, we hate sex and like violence."