MacDirectory magazine is the premiere creative lifestyle magazine for Apple enthusiasts featuring interviews, in-depth tech reviews, Apple news, insights, latest Apple patents, apps, market analysis, entertainment and more.
Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/1384448
Quality and quantity of content grew with the technology. VOD and theatrical can coexist. The content industry has proven that D2C works. They have even proven that streaming big budget flicks works. But viewing entertainment is not an either/or decision. Books still exist and so do a few scattered Barnes & Noble as well as other large and small general/special interest stores. CDs/records still exist and so do general music stores like Sunrise Records, Sam Goody, Rough Trade, Virgin Records and Tower Records in addition to special interest music outlets. During the lockdown, people have more quickly made the transition to e-commerce where they can buy physical books, CDs, records and/or e-books and music downloads. Still, there’s something that exhilarates a person when they buy a record in a store, search the shelves for something tangible to read or experience a film the way the filmmaker envisioned it … regardless of the obstacles. PayTV forced/trained people to watch on a specific evening at a specific time or miss “their” show. VOD freed folks of that “commitment.” Streaming has given folks an overwhelming choice of rich, more diverse content and it’s available when you want to watch it. Contrary to NRG (National Research Group)’s position, watching the tentpole or so-so film at home doesn’t diminish the value of the experience. The value of a video project is in the eyes and minds of people who want to and are willing to pay to watch the content whether it’s subscription, ads or premium payment. Filmmakers, exhibitors, distributors, and services have to think/plan forward and constantly innovate to stay ahead of the consumer by enticing them with content they couldn’t imagine but want to experience. And in the way they want to experience it. There are still hundreds of thousands, even perhaps millions, who simply have to go to a movie theater to experience a movie. And they are again … at their own pace. People got comfortable over the past 10-12 months with their stay-at-home sports, game, music, reading and viewing. But that was when the world was closed! However, as vaccination protection from Covid-19 increases around the globe, people are yearning for some of their old normal like going to the office to work, enjoying dinner out instead of take-out, watching movies on the big screen. Organizations that only considered short-term survival and what was good for them may hear former partners and consumers tell them what Brady Hawkes said in The Gambler, “It’s fellows like you that give gambling a bad name. Like drunks give drinking.” It’s far better to thrive. And to thrive with style, grace and respect.