The press have been mentioning this from time to time but seem to think movie downloading is far off. I would disagree. The new release of King Kong has gone to DVD even earlier than most major movies before it. Which leads one to ask why delay simultaneous release any longer?

The short answer is movie theatres, or I should say the multiplexes that are out there. They still benefit form getting the first crack at the audience and are fighting not to loose that revenue edge. But as Marc Cuban (What business are Theatres In?) and Mark Pesce ( Piracy is good? How Battlestar Galactica Killed Broadcast TV) have written in some recent articles. What business are the theaters really in? and will simultaneous releases really hurt them? or just cause the long over due evolution of the movie theatre business model.

There are two distinct forces that are at work in the world right now. Both are unstoppable and both will eventually change the movie theatre experience as we now know it. The first is the portable media device. The ipod , the cell phone, the blackberry, and other like devices that enable media to be portable and accessible anywhere anytime.

The second is the new culture of choice. What you want, when you want it ,and where and how you choose to consume it. This second concept may not be as clear as the first. It means instead of going to a multiplex in the Mall, with cell phones ringing and teenagers text messaging and gossiping, to see a movie, you might choose to go to a quiet small local cinema. One that caters to your neighborhood or your life style. One that offers matinees for stay at home Moms who can bring small children. One that perhaps has dinner included in a dinner theatre setting in the evening. One that bans cell phones and does not appeal to teens or tweens. Sound unlikely? you would be surprised. Marc Cuban has developed a whole new movie theatre model not unlike those that are springing up across the country. Here is one example: