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When exactly do the newest releases get on board aircraft after release in the cinemas ? Do they get the slot before general release on DVD?

The film Click is currently showing on VS and thats only been released on DVD in the US at the moment, and it still showing in the cinemas in the UK. Also Nacho Libre is showing - not sure if thats been released on DVD in the US yet, but its only come out at the cinema in the UK recently.

Guess it depends on the film.

Not sure of the exact timing but there can be quite a gap between it appearing on IFE and appearing on DVD (in the UK at least). "The Wind That Shakes The Barley" has just appeared on DVD, yet we watched that in the summer. "Thank You For Smoking" which I watched on the other leg of the trip has yet to appear on DVD.

Paul

On the way to Orlanso last week I saw "The Queen" & "The Devil Wears Prada" both of which are still in Cinema's here.

Ive often noted that American films in UK cinemas and on American DVD (or nearing release) are usually on the plane, whilst British Films on newly released on DVD are on board.

Kev.

Devil wears Prada was on VS before the UK premier. Probably due to differences between UK and US release dates.

I have generally found that VS have movies before they have their DVD release.

Paul

From what I can recall from my Movie Studio Rights days the airline rights are somewhere between Theatrical and DVD. I think they run pretty much in parallel with the VOD, NVOD and Hotel/Motel rights window.

I also know that the airline rights used to be based on the flag of the airline concerned so US airline would often be showing films long before the UK theatrical realease by virtue that they had previously been released in the US. This is not so relevant now as theatrical release dates tend to be pretty close worldwide with a couple of studio's notably Disney bucking the trend on this. Quite often small UK sleepers are released way ahead in the UK and therefore get airline rights for UK carriers while it is still in US theatrical release.

The issue of rights across the various platforms is constantly shifting as new platforms (e.g. Broadband) are introduced and studios determine how to maximise revenue. I believe that the advent of VOD on aircraft has also considerably complicated things as the studios are paid an element based on # of viewers.

Phil

Well Disney's recent POTC Dead Man's Chest had a simulataneous release in UK and US, although CARS did not with the US being quite a bit in front of the US.

Also, you can notice on the VS aircraft without V-Port that the films showing ex-USA are newer than those showing Ex-UK. So my guess would be that the rights seem to be valid from port of Departure. However, this theory kind of goes to pot on the V-PORT aircraft!

Paul