While other sites that have HD options like Vimeo and Dailymotion aren’t much of a threat to YouTube’s dominance in the online video market, the writing was on the wall. Grainy, crappy versions of clips weren’t going to cut it in a high-definition world, especially as web video starts migrating to the television.
And what a difference a year makes. At NewTeeVee Live 2007, YouTube co-founder Steve Chen said that higher-quality video was not as important as having as many people as possible watching video. Maybe YouTube feels that 344 million uniques a month is enough, because in recent months they’ve reversed that stance, offering “higher quality” at first, then widescreen.
The new, polished look goes well with the new, polished professional content YouTube’s been getting from the studios.
A few months ago, we had a meeting with Criterion president Peter Becker and he walked us through the company’s plans to bring some of its high-art catalog to online downloads. It was super early and super secret at that point, so I kinda forgot about it, and when news broke last week about the launch of said service I sorta missed it. But this is an announcement no one should miss. The Criterion Collection’s Online Cinematheque offers a host of top-quality classics in a great viewing environment. And, for a pretty low price. Some of the highlights in the initial offering include: Lodge Kerrigan’s Clean, Shaven, Barbet Schroeder’s General Idi Amin Dada, Andrei Tarkovsky’s Solaris, Jane Campion’s Sweetie, and Louis Malle’s Au Revoir Les Enfants. I hope this service is a success, because no one has fully cracked the foreign-language arena for digital downloads. If anyone can do it, Criterion can.
Indie feature The Cult of Sincerity gained some traction a few months ago when it debuted to the world on YouTube. The entire film is now off YouTube, and available for rental/purchase on Amazon VOD (with more destinations to follow). It will be a great example of a film streaming for free online first to drum up support and awareness, and then moving over to a transactional model to broaden its base. As the filmmakers themselves have noted, not everyone wants to watch their movie on YouTube, so now they can offer an experience to folks that were waiting for alternatives. Here’s the trailer:
CINETIC RIGHTS MANAGEMENT ANNOUNCES DISTRIBUTION OF INDEPENDENT FILM CATALOGUE THROUGH AMAZON VIDEO ON DEMAND AND CREATESPACE
New York, NY (November 13, 2008) – Cinetic Rights Management (CRM) announced today that its catalogue of independent films will be available on Amazon Video on Demand and via CreateSpace DVD on Demand. Through this unique online film distribution effort, certain titles will be made available to consumers exclusively each month. In addition, both CRM and Amazon Video on Demand will curate a slate of approximately twenty independent films each month. These films will then be made available to consumers as digital downloads on Amazon’s Video On Demand and also as on-demand DVD’s via Amazon’s CreateSpace, part of the Amazon.com group of companies which enables discs to be manufactured only after a customer places an order. This new venture launches today with an Amazon exclusive of writer/director Dave McLaughlin’s ON BROADWAY (2007) starring Joey McIntyre and Eliza Dushku which focuses on a Boston playwright who stages a production of his work in the back of an Irish pub.
“We’re so excited about our partnership with Amazon Video On Demand,” said Matt Dentler of Cinetic Rights Management. “Audiences are no longer required to live in a specific city to see new and classic independent film. All they need now is an Internet connection.”
“Amazon customers love independent films,” said Roy Price, director, digital video, Amazon.com. “With Cinetic, we’re able to deliver them unique, exclusive and compelling movies that are not available anywhere else.”
Among the other films being released on Amazon Video on Demand in November are the following titles:
• THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK (1984), director Rob Epstein
This Oscar-winning documentary takes a look at the political rise and tragic slaying of the first openly gay city official in the United States, Harvey Milk.
• HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HARRIS MALDEN (2008), director Sweaty Robot
Harris Malden is the neighborhood darling, but he has an idiosyncrasy: he tries to pass off his facial hair as real to his friends and family. The mustache is a big bold lie affixed right above his lip and it isn’t fooling anyone but himself. The small community that shelters Harris supports his curious habit. Despite the big ol’ fake mustache, everything is fine and dandy—until his twenty-fifth birthday.
• YOUR MOMMY KILLS ANIMALS (2007), director Curt Johnson
A documentary about the battles of the government against extreme animal rights’ activists.
• A MODERN AFFAIR (1995), director Vern Oakley
A man and woman fall in love after they meet following a visit to the fertility clinic. Starring Stanley Tucci.
All Cinetic titles will be made available to Amazon Video on Demand customers for rent or purchase. Movie rentals are $2.99 for a seven day rental, and movie purchases are $9.99. Amazon Video on Demand titles can be played instantly on PC’s or MAC’s, or downloaded and watched on PC’s, TIVO boxes, compatible Sony Bravia televisions, and portable video players. Customers can purchase titles by going to http://www.amazon.com/vod.
The Princess of Nebraska is just the tip of the iceberg, according to YouTube this week. The company announced plans to upgrade its player for feature-length content, which will likely include studio films as well as independents. CNET’s Greg Sandoval reports:
For months, Google, YouTube’s parent company, has been talking to the major film companies about launching an ad-supported, streaming movie service, two execs with knowledge of the negotiations told CNET News. “It’s not imminent,” said one of the executives. “But it’s going to happen. I would say you can expect to see it, if all goes well, sometime within the next 30 to 90 days.”
To be sure, not all the studios are prepared to give YouTube full-length movies. Canadian film company Lionsgate agreed in July to give YouTube access to only short movie clips. At least one other studio is trying to cut a similar deal for short-form content with Google, said a separate high-level industry insider.
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