If Netflix
Time Warner
This revelation comes as the throwaway ending to a Financial Times interview with Warner Bros. Home Entertainment president Kevin Tsujihara, whom I've always seen as a light in Hollywood's Luddite darkness. The main gist of that story is that Warner wanted a similar release window for DISH Network's
Netflix sort of started out that way and could get back in the quick-release game by going there again. Remember the first-sale doctrine!
But like I said, I respect Tsujihara and fully expect a deal that lets both sides get something they want. In one embodiment, Netflix could agree to a longer new-release DVD delay in return for more palatable terms on streaming content licenses. In another embodiment, the payback for longer delays could be prominent Netflix-branded product placement in Warner's movies and TV shows. Another embodiment would encompass slower but cheaper DVD shipments -- or deeper digital access to Warner's enormous back catalog of great content, or homemade tiramisu and professional backrubs at the next Netflix personnel party on Warner's dime. Maybe even some kind of tie-in to Warner property HBO. That would be sweet.
You get the idea -- Netflix may very well sign a seemingly less attractive DVD deal with Warner -- and then with Sony
With any other studio on the other side of the table, I'd expect heavy friction and maybe no deal at all. Thanks to Tsujihara's involvement, I believe we'll see something better. And then it'll be up to Reed Hastings to explain what we get on balance for slower DVD releases -- without putting his foot in his mouth.
Is that too much to ask? Fool CEO Tom Gardner certainly wants better communication out of Hastings. Will we get it? Only time will tell. Add Netflix to your Foolish watchlist, so you can see if Hastings can deliver.