Fox shortens high-def window

CES: Will deliver movies 60 days after theatrical release

By Paul Sweeting -- Video Business, 1/8/2006

JAN. 8 | LAS VEGAS--20th Century Fox is developing a plan to release its movies in high-definition just 60 days after theatrical release, according to News Corp. president-COO Peter Chernin.

Giving a keynote address at an invitation-only dinner here Friday at the Consumer Electronics Show, Chernin said Fox also is preparing plans to make movies available via video-on-demand simultaneously with their release on DVD--the first time a major studio chief has committed to eliminating the traditional window between home video and VOD.

Chernin said Fox has not yet determined the delivery platform for the newly created high-def window between theatrical distribution and home video release. High-definition can be delivered via cable, satellite, the Internet and soon digital discs.

A spokeswoman of Fox parent News Corp. declined to provide further details of the plans, and Chernin left the dinner without taking questions.

The news comes just three weeks before Mark Cuban makes his revolutionary debut of Steven Soderbergh's Bubble in 20 of Cuban's Landmark theaters on Jan. 27, nearly simultaneous with the premiere of the movie on the high-def HDNet Movies channel and on DVD on Jan. 31.

Chernin's address capped a week of aggressive digital delivery announcements by Fox companies, including plans to make The Shield and Rescue Me available several days in advance of their weekly debut on FX to customers who adopt News Corp.'s new DirecTV digital video recorders. The studio’s home video unit also announced plans to release the first movies in the new high-def digital disc format called Blu-ray Disc two weeks prior to the introduction of the first Blu-ray machine sometime this spring or early summer.

Fox home entertainment officials said after Chernin's speech that high-def movies would be available for one-time viewing only in the new window, indicating that the likely means of delivery would not be on disc.

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment president Mike Dunn said the move to introduce the new premium high-def window could happen within a matter of months.

Chernin's appearance at the "Leaders in Technology" dinner marked the first time an executive from a content-producing company has addressed the annual bread-breaking between technology companies and public policymakers, hosted by the Consumer Electronics Assn. at CES.

Chernin said he was seizing the opportunity to try to reverse the impression among many in the technology community that News Corp. is resistant to technological change.

"This is an electrifying moment for the CE and IT industries," Chernin said. "And I'm here with a message that may sound counter-intuitive: It's an even more electrifying time for content companies."

Chernin said Fox also is in advanced discussions with Apple and Sony to make Fox TV episodes available for download through the iTunes and Sony Select online services.

His latest comments were in sharp contrast to some of his earlier remarks, in which he has sharply criticized technology companies for not doing enough to help stem widespread piracy of movies and music.

At CES, however, he sounded conciliatory.

"We have no intention of wasting the opportunity you and your companies have created," Chernin said.

The News Corp. exec appeared to extend an olive branch on the question of copy-protection, declaring, "We have to work together to make sure these new devices provide a secure home for our content."