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Netflix is aiming to take over the entertainment business. Next stop? Movie theaters.
Now that Netflix has changed the landscape of entertainment viewing by offering you tons of TV shows, movies, documentaries and more for a pretty low monthly fee, it now seems that the entertainment giant is hoping to buy some movie theaters.
According to Gizmodo, Netflix recently pursued a deal to buy the Landmark Theaters — a chain of theaters owned by Dallas Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban. But Netflix backed out because the price was absurdly high.
But why would Netflix want to buy theaters? Well, folks believe it is to gain an Oscar edge. And remember, that we are seeing more and more of Netflix’s content on the award circuit. Not only has Netflix spent over $8 billion producing its own content, but they have also said that they will be releasing 80 of their own movies in 2018. It’s clear they want to suck on that award teet.
“We want our films to be on fair ground with every other filmmaker,” Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos said. “There’s a risk in us going in this way and having our films and filmmakers treated disrespectfully at the festival.”
Also from Netflix: Netflix Actually Wants To Pay Someone To Binge-Watch The Hell Out Of Everything
Gizmodo
Sarandos and his Netflix buds won’t budge on their idea that movies should be released on streaming services the same day they’re released in theaters. Theaters won’t agree to this, thus no Netflix movies in theaters. If Netflix owned its own theaters, however, the company could do a big theatrical release for those who love the big screen and a streaming release for lazy people who love convenience.
Owning and operating movie theaters also means you can sell concessions—in some states, that includes food and alcohol—to movie-goers. Netflix could also woo its subscribers into the seats by offering discounts on tickets and food. That would also become an incentive for more people to pay for Netflix subscriptions.
While some folks love the movie theater experience, it’s hard for me to see tons of people choosing to see a movie on the big screen, when they can just see the same movie naked in their own bed. The latter sure is something that’s hard to not choose.
At the moment, it seems that Netflix continues to try and purchase movie theaters. But what do you think? Would you be all about this?
