HBO/Showtime/The Movie Channel/Cinemax

[EweSeaEff]

There was a time when these premium networks were all about movies. They would outbid each other for the rights to a film once that movie's theatrical run was over. But, these days, does anyone still use HBO, Showtime, The Movie Channel, Cinemax, Starz, et. al. to watch movies? HBO and Showtime at least have original content these days, but why do the others, including the offshoots of the "parent channel" still exist? I know The Movie Channel is owned by Showtime and Cinemax is owned by HBO, but with the proliferation of Apple Movies, Amazon Movies, Netflix, etc., do they still serve a purpose? I was on HBO Go the other day to start watching 'The Defiant Ones' and stumbled across the selection of movies which led me to start wondering about this.

 

[UCFKnight85]

There was a time when these premium networks were all about movies. They would outbid each other for the rights to a film once that movie's theatrical run was over. But, these days, does anyone still use HBO, Showtime, The Movie Channel, Cinemax, Starz, et. al. to watch movies? HBO and Showtime at least have original content these days, but why do the others, including the offshoots of the "parent channel" still exist? I know The Movie Channel is owned by Showtime and Cinemax is owned by HBO, but with the proliferation of Apple Movies, Amazon Movies, Netflix, etc., do they still serve a purpose? I was on HBO Go the other day to start watching 'The Defiant Ones' and stumbled across the selection of movies which led me to start wondering about this.

I have HBO and Showtime and have watched maybe a few actual movies on those networks in the 8 years I've had them. I have them 100% for the original content which easily eclipses the movies they put out there.

Which brings up another point: in general I watch movies less and less and original TV series more and more. I was just scanning new On Demand movies and for the most part they were all total shit. On the other hand there is no shortage of awesome TV shows to pick from, such as Ozark that I just started.

You're also seeing more big names shun movies to do TV. With all of the ways to deliver content I can foresee a day when Hollywood's role is diminished and a physical theater is a thing of the past. We're probably 10 years away from movies going straight to your personal devices vs. theaters.

 

[EweSeaEff]

I completely agree with you. My wife and I will sit down on a Friday or Saturday night to watch a movie (I guess it's nostalgia that's kicking in from years past when we would go to the movies on a date) and there's nothing but absolute garbage. I can't recall anything in the last 5-10 years that I've actually been excited to watch. It wasn't that long ago (well, maybe it was) when I was a teenager working at a movie theatre and getting wet-your-pants excited waiting for something that I saw a trailer for to be released.

I'm always interested in the conversation regarding physical movie theatres becoming insignificant. That narrative has been discussed for over 20 years. I remember with the rise of DVDs and, more specifically, DivX, there was a paranoia that pervaded the theatre industry that the end was near. What happened? Theatre attendance and revenues actually went up over the next several years. When we looked back at that time, the consensus was that the theatre experience was irreplaceable. There was probably a certain truth to that; but, these days, you have to drag me kicking and screaming to go see a movie in a theatre. Not because I dislike the theatre experience per se, but I just can't handle the lack of civility and courtesy shown by the knuckle draggers that I'm sharing the theatre with. Facebooking, texting, talking, kicking seats...why should I pay $12 (or whatever a ticket costs these days) for that when I could become a teacher and get paid to tolerate the same behavior?

I do think that the end is coming somewhere down the line, but I think it parallels the same line of thinking about professional sports' attendance, etc. Ultimately, I think there will be a downsizing; but, I don't think that theatres or professional sports stadiums will totally disappear.

 

[reddog4720]

As a kid growing up, I would look forward to the "new" movie on Saturday nights at 8pm on HBO. They would do it every week and it would be one of the more popular hollywood flicks, so it was something to look forward to.

 

[UCFWayne]

The shows these companies are creating now have Hollywood movie budgets. Its no wonder more people are turning to them for shows vs movies.

 

[UCFKnight85]

I completely agree with you. My wife and I will sit down on a Friday or Saturday night to watch a movie (I guess it's nostalgia that's kicking in from years past when we would go to the movies on a date) and there's nothing but absolute garbage. I can't recall anything in the last 5-10 years that I've actually been excited to watch. It wasn't that long ago (well, maybe it was) when I was a teenager working at a movie theatre and getting wet-your-pants excited waiting for something that I saw a trailer for to be released.

I'm always interested in the conversation regarding physical movie theatres becoming insignificant. That narrative has been discussed for over 20 years. I remember with the rise of DVDs and, more specifically, DivX, there was a paranoia that pervaded the theatre industry that the end was near. What happened? Theatre attendance and revenues actually went up over the next several years. When we looked back at that time, the consensus was that the theatre experience was irreplaceable. There was probably a certain truth to that; but, these days, you have to drag me kicking and screaming to go see a movie in a theatre. Not because I dislike the theatre experience per se, but I just can't handle the lack of civility and courtesy shown by the knuckle draggers that I'm sharing the theatre with. Facebooking, texting, talking, kicking seats...why should I pay $12 (or whatever a ticket costs these days) for that when I could become a teacher and get paid to tolerate the same behavior?

I do think that the end is coming somewhere down the line, but I think it parallels the same line of thinking about professional sports' attendance, etc. Ultimately, I think there will be a downsizing; but, I don't think that theatres or professional sports stadiums will totally disappear.

The only movie I've been massively excited about recently was Hacksaw Ridge. It was absolutely amazing. Beyond that there have been "good" movies but nothing that is overly memorable. Hidden Figures was actually really good.

I personally haven't been to a theater in probably 12+ years. I absolutely hate theaters since you have to deal with morons all around you, and I can only imagine how shitty it is now with everyone owning an f'ing iPhone that they must check every 5 minutes. I wait for movies to load On Demand and watch at home.

The best stuff is clearly being done on TV now. While movies pump out more of the same shit, TV has done shows like GOT, Westworld, Better Call Saul, The Strain, The Affair, True Detective (S1), The Leftovers, Stranger Things, Man in the High Castle, etc etc etc They're all soooo much better than anything Hollywood is doing.

I think the theater question has more to do with the production studios; what if the traditional studios diminish and most of movies are coming from Netflix, Apple, Google, Amazon, etc? They'll go straight to streaming at that point.

 

[Ace of Knights]

You can tell better stories with 70+ hours of content vs 2.5 hour movies. It's pretty much as simple as that. Especially considering CGI mesmerizing effects are used everywhere now and not the big draw to theaters they used to be.

 

[Knight_Light]

Good news is many theater chains are playing catch up and investing millions into their theaters.

The all recliner (RPX in Regal) with other special effects (vibrating recliners, sound system to the 10th degree) and or even directors filming in 70mm format like with Dunkirk (about 120 theaters in USA carried that format, largest 70 mm release in decades), there is still nothing like the theater experience IF the right audience attends. (i.e. over 21 years old theaters, those that monitor theaters of texters because their giant screens are soooooooooooo bright, or make sure it's an R rated movie to avoid teenagers/kids, etc..

Those that live/travel in TX have probably heard about Aloma Drafthouse and their strict NO TEXTING policy. Which they were in FLA.

 

[cnsaguy]

Atypical on Netflix is an entertaining show

 

[UCFKnightfan08]

The cost of a movie ticket will get you HBO for a month. They definitely have some great original content that I look forward to WAY more than a movie. The budgets are insane, someone told me GoT is like 8 million an episode to make.

 

[UCFKnight85]

The cost of a movie ticket will get you HBO for a month. They definitely have some great original content that I look forward to WAY more than a movie. The budgets are insane, someone told me GoT is like 8 million an episode to make.

That's still only $48M total. Most "large budget" Hollywood movies are well over $200M to make. And HBO doesn't have to pay any distribution Middle men to broadcast GOT.

 

[Knight_Light]

Saw where the initial GOT budgets were $6-$8 Million per episode while last year (2016), they jumped up to $10 Million per episode ($100 Million for the season).

No clue on this year's costs but odds are, the budget didn't drop.

 

[UCFKnight85]

Saw where the initial GOT budgets were $6-$8 Million per episode while last year (2016), they jumped up to $10 Million per episode ($100 Million for the season).

No clue on this year's costs but odds are, the budget didn't drop.

That's still pretty damn efficient considering they are getting 10 hours out of that $100M as opposed to movies who get 2-3 hours max for much more.