Screening Room: Service for people to watch movies at home on day of release 'presents massive risk' to film industry

UK Cinema Assocation says proposed streaming service threatens jobs and will allow film piracy to flourish

Screening Room – a start up from Napster founder Sean Parker which would allow people to watch films at home on the day of their release in cinemas – presents a “massive risk” to the entire film industry, the UK Cinema Association has said.

The organisation, which represents 90 per cent of cinema operators, said the proposed streaming service threatened jobs and would allow film piracy to flourish.

In a statement, the association said: “It is difficult to envisage how this proposal — if adopted — could do anything other than present an unprecedented opportunity for film piracy while at the same time damaging the foundations of a cinema business which remains the key driver of revenue for the entire business.

“The cinema experience represents not only over 40 per cent of total film revenues, but also generates ‘word of mouth’ marketing which benefits every other subsequent platform. This proposal would therefore inevitably lead to a loss in overall income for the film industry.”

Screening Room, the brainchild of Parker and his business partner Prem Akkaraju, offers new releases in the home for $50 per 48-hour view.

Although the entrepreneurs count Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson and J.J. Abrams among their big-name backers, Oscar-winning filmmakers James Cameron and Jon Landau have raised their voices in concern saying that movies should “be offered exclusively in theaters for their initial release.”

The UKCA also said there is “no evidence” to suggest that significant numbers of people are willing to pay £35 to watch even the biggest films at home on day of release.”

Some Hollywood insiders have said the proposed change is inevitable. “There can’t be an exhibitor worth anything that doesn’t know this is where we’re headed,” David Weitzner, a former studio marketing chief, told Variety this week. “Short of surrendering and sticking their head in the sand, this is something both sides need to work on.”