One of the biggest issues for the cinema industry that has loomed since Netflix announced its acquisition of Warner Bros. is the question of theatrical releases for films. It’s been a topic of much debate, with Netflix drawing the ire of the industry when it was leaked that the company was pushing for a theatrical release window of just 17 days for its films.
This seems to have subsided, with Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos telling the New York Times that the company will not reduce the time films are exclusive to theaters once its deal with Warner Bros. closes.
“When this deal closes, we will own a theatrical distribution engine that is phenomenal and produces billions of dollars of theatrical revenue that we don’t want to put at risk,” says Sarandos. “We will run that business largely like it is today, with 45-day windows, I’m giving you a hard number. If we’re going to be in the theatrical business, and we are, we’re competitive people – we want to win. I want to win opening weekend. I want to win box office.”
Netflix is still expected to close its deal with Warner Bros, and is shifting to an all-cash arrangement after facing litigation from Paramount.
