Theater Owners to Comcast: Cut!

Washington, D.C. (May 14, 2007) -- Comcast President Steve Burke said last week that big blockbuster films like the next Spiderman could soon air on cable High-Definition TV the same day they premiere in the theaters.

However, two major movie theater chains are saying Comcast doesn't have a ticket to that show.

The Los Angeles Times reports today that Regal Entertainment and National Amusements say they would refuse to show any movie that premiered on cable and in the theater the same day.

“We’re not interested in playing anything that makes its debut in the home and at the theater at the same time,” Michael Campbell, Regal's CEO, told the Times.

The theater chains are concerned that movie fans will stay home if they know they can watch the big new hit on cable.

However, Burke said his plan would not hurt the theater owners because cable viewers would be charged from $30-60 for the one-time showing. He said the cable viewing would help promote the film, encouraging more people to see it in the theater.

"You would have to have some sort of check and balance so that it does not do damage to the box office," Burke said at a panel discussion at last week's National Cable Show.

Click to read Part Two of this article.

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Phillip Swann is president and publisher of TVPredictions.com. He has been quoted in dozens of publications and broadcast outlets, including CNN, Fox News, Inside Edition, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Financial Times, The Associated Press and The Hollywood Reporter. He can be reached at swann@tvpredictions.com or at 703-505-3064.

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