More films will be jointly released in cinemas and on streaming services in future because of a shift in viewing habits, a Netflix boss has predicted.
Cinemas have traditionally enjoyed a period of screening exclusivity, known as the theatrical release window.
But the pandemic has pushed films to streaming services, with Warner Bros moving their 2021 catalogue online.
Netflix chief Greg Peters said the pandemic has shown “consumers want” simultaneous releases.
He told a virtual session at Morgan Stanley’s Technology, Media & Telecom Conference that “consumer choice” should dominate decisions.
“We’ve been supporting [simultaneous] release for a long time, [and] maybe shorter theatrical windows. So I would say we’re enthusiastic to see a shift in enabling more and more of that”, said Peters, who is Netflix’s Chief Operating Officer.
“At the end of the day, it’s hard to buck that trend for too long, and I think that that’s eventually where things go.”
(Source: International agencies)
