DIRECTV's Owner Calls HDTV Viewers 'Desperate'

[Jeremy Charette]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.tvpredictions.com/directvdesperate030106.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.tvpredictions.com/directvdesperate030106.htm</a><br /><br /></div><i>"News Corp. President and COO Peter Chernin told a financial conference yesterday that his company is talking to cable and satellite operators about charging $25-30 to watch a movie in HDTV 60 days after its theatrical release. Cable and satellite providers now charge less than $5 to watch an on-demand or Pay Per View film. Asked if the $25-30 cost seemed high, The Hollywood Reporter quotes Chernin as saying that some high-def owners would be "desperate consumers" because there is relatively little HDTV programming available on cable and satellite."</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/chernin.jpg" /> <br /><br />I'm sorry, but what!? There are plenty of HD movies available on premium channels like HBO HD and Showtime HD. Most of them are relatively recent studio releases, or original content. I don't know what consumer demographic Chernin is aiming for, because none of the HDTV owners I know would be "desperate" enough to spend that kind of money for a time limited PPV movie, even if it is in HD. If you ask me, most DVDs look better than HD movies over cable or satellite. Most broadcast HD content is compressed to hell due to bandwidth limitations. Just one of many reasons I wouldn't pay the price Chernin is asking.

[Jason Dunn]

About the ONLY way I could see this working is if people did what I do for UFC Pay-Per-View fights: you get a few people together, they each pitch in a few bucks to cover the expense of the event...but, really, how often are people going to want to do that for a movie? :roll:

[Chris Gohlke]

Heck, I've gotten spoiled on being able to buy DVD's for about $15 for new releases. I doubt I would be willing to pay that for an HD DVD, much the less for an HD rental. Here is the only caveat. I might pay that for a movie that is new in theaters but not for something that has been out a while.

[BugDude10]

Perhaps he was commenting more on the general desperation of HD-viewers to see more HD content, as opposed to the actual willingness of HD-viewers to spend that kind of money on a single program. I've had my HD set (Toshiba 62HM195) for about a month now, and am very impressed with the HD content I've seen (particularly the Olympics broadcasts), and am excited about finding more. Although I've been a DirecTV customer almost from the beginning, I'm not opting for their HD package right now -- I'm just not interested in spending an additional $11 USD each month for only 6-8 channels of HD programming. (If/when DirecTV has half or more of their current channel lineup in HD, then sign me up!) I'm very much looking forward to more and more HD programming in the future.

In the meantime, though, there is absolutely no chance I'd spend *any* money on HD PPV. Regular DVDs look stellar on my system, and I'd just as soon buy a regular DVD as pay to see a movie one time, even in HD. (In fact, regular DVDs look so good that I won't be in any hurry to get a HD DVD player whenever they're finally out and reasonably priced.)

Just my $0.02.

[Phoenix]

Where do people like this get their sense of reality? Guys like Chernin are from outside the galaxy.

We have an HD theatre near by. $9.50 to watch an HD movie the moment it comes out.

$25+ to rent a movie. Get real.