Media Distribution

Media Companies and Consumerism

 Every one of us, at one time or another, has seen a movie at a theatre. These commercial theatres constitute theatrical exhibition sites whereas watching videos at home, school or a library would be referred to as non- theatrical sites.

Nowadays, a Hollywood film would be viewed by far more people on video than at the theatres.

The Basics of Film Distribution

Most movie theatres are part of a chain of movie houses, which are managed by a few companies; they are referred to as exhibitors.

exhibitors rent films from distribution companies

distributors link filmmakers to the audiences by supplying exhibitors with films

In the United States, the exhibitors obtain films by bidding for each film the distributor releases; they are in most cases allowed to preview the films before bidding

The Basics of Film Distribution

The major distributors (see assignment on the next screen) will provide sponsor trade shows for the exhibitors. They treat the exhibitors to a screening of an upcoming release and spice up the viewing with opportunities to meet the stars of the shows, as well as, flashy parties.

In other countries, exhibitors and distributors may book blindly; that is, exhibitors rent a film with out seeing it. They may also practice block booking, which is booking a series of films in order to attain the particular film they want.

Standard Contract for a Film

Distributor gets 70% of box office receipts the first/opening week.

This drops gradually to 30% over several weeks

Exhibitor gets the entire concessions profits, which can provide 70% of the theatres profits.

The distributor provides not only the movie but the publicity campaign, the costs of which are shared with the exhibitors.

They are responsible to make prints, schedule release dates and launch advertising campaigns.

They run publicity campaigns, including such products as "trailers", music videos, merchandising (action figures, lunch boxes) and CD's.

Film distributors often belong to a major international conglomerate, which provides further access to other forms of media.

Independent distributors, unfortunately, do not have these opportunities. Listed within your assignment is a brief outline of the Time Warner Co. and some of its holdings.

SYNERGY or Vertical integration