OK, this is just nutty. Apparently Universal is planning "an experiment." A movie that's scheduled to hit theaters in the next bit called Tower Heist, which at first glance appears to be an Oceans 11 ripoff starring Eddie Murphy and Ben Stiller, is going to be released to Comcast VOD a couple weeks after its theatrical release in a couple of test markets: Atlanta and Portland (I assume Oregon).
Cost for viewing? $59.99.
http://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/2011/10/would-you-pay-5999-to-see-tower-heist-on-demand.html
While it may be fine for those with large families (as the article tries to rationalize) who no longer wish to go out in public, or if you happen to have a small auditorium in your house where you could have a few dozen friends over you could amortize the cost quite nicely, for the majority of people who watch VOD - singles and couples - the cost is just nuts. And, come on, an Eddie Murphy/Ben Stiller movie called Tower Heist? This ain't Avatar 2, and even if it were, that'd be nuts.
Sounds like the "experiment" is dead on arrival anyway - according to the story the Cinemark chain is going to pull the movie from its theaters if the test in two cities goes forward. I don't blame them. It's as nutty as the plan (that I see never came to fruition) one studio announced a few years back that would have had DVD copies of the movie available in the lobby after the show (thereby eliminating most "repeat viewing" income for the theater).
Alex
Cost for viewing? $59.99.
http://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/2011/10/would-you-pay-5999-to-see-tower-heist-on-demand.html
While it may be fine for those with large families (as the article tries to rationalize) who no longer wish to go out in public, or if you happen to have a small auditorium in your house where you could have a few dozen friends over you could amortize the cost quite nicely, for the majority of people who watch VOD - singles and couples - the cost is just nuts. And, come on, an Eddie Murphy/Ben Stiller movie called Tower Heist? This ain't Avatar 2, and even if it were, that'd be nuts.
Sounds like the "experiment" is dead on arrival anyway - according to the story the Cinemark chain is going to pull the movie from its theaters if the test in two cities goes forward. I don't blame them. It's as nutty as the plan (that I see never came to fruition) one studio announced a few years back that would have had DVD copies of the movie available in the lobby after the show (thereby eliminating most "repeat viewing" income for the theater).
Alex
- can not imagine this. To charge some one $60.00 for a movie (reminds me the old adds to own your own copy of Star Trek 5 for $99.99* SRP on VHS circa 1989). 
