Originally posted by Mike Blakesley
View Post
The question is, if the eCinema solution now includes a $25 to the exhibitor.. Is the same $49 or $40, whatever it is now, still also charged to the distributor? Resulting in a $65 total charge for Deluxe doing the work? Cost and who pays for it is very important in this scenario.
In Australia, those looking to get into this market also insist on controlling the internet link. The reason for this is more about locking out competitors then anything else. And controlling the pipe to the cinemas. And as such a form of power/influence over what the cinemas can show. Typically, after a second internet link, costs go up significantly due to infrastructure is not designed to deal with more and so you have to install a completely new connection at huge $$$
This also make little sense when internet is getting to about 100mbit and minimal costs. A single link can deal with pretty much everything a cinema needs. DCP delivery and all other internet requirements of a cinema.
As sending a DCP is becoming as trivial as sending a KDM, realistically any form of control of the link is, an attempt equivalent to locking the industry into using FAX machines so they cannot move to Emails, and use the ability to control were you can get FAX paper as a gatekeeper move.
I am not against this but we need to understand these motives and business decisions as to make sure we as cinema owners invest in the right path.
As cinema owners, we have experience in the use of gatekeeper technologies such as Dolby-SR/SDDS etc and how it affected us in the past.
There are reasons DCI intentionally insisted on technologies utilised in the DCI standards were patent free. the new IAB (Over ATMOS) being a prime example.
There is always a lot of maneuvering to avid entities forming gatekeeper workflows in our industry. And to be honest, we cannot afford such occurrences going forward. The industry is already under a lot of financial stress.
Leave a comment: