Theater Chain Death Watch? Chapter 11s inc

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Goatface

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WATCHING AT LEAST 2 MINUTES OF A PROGRAM IS COUNTED TOWARD SHARE OF VIEWERSHIP.

that is some prime BS. when netflick went from 70% to 2 mins, it increased their view counts over by over a third
 
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When I think 90's, I think packed blockbusters with families buying a few days worth of things to watch. That's like millions and millions of 90's memories, now down to one store. That store is a tourist destination, I heard. International even.

Anyone who harms it would be hunted down like a dog, and even the person's grandma would say, "I always knew he was plain no good! Fry 'em!"
 
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Locnar

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I actually subscribed to blockbusters mail order DVD plan. You know, where you pay 10 dollars a month or wtf ever it was and you could pick 3 dvds to be sent in the mail, then you'd send them back and get 3 more, etc.

I wonder why netflix beat them at essentially the same thing. I can't even remember for how long I was a "member" of that.

Video rental stores were the thing to do once. We are getting old and nostalgic for sure.
 

Sanrith Descartes

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When I think 90's, I think packed blockbusters with families buying a few days worth of things to watch. That's like millions and millions of 90's memories, now down to one store. That store is a tourist destination, I heard. International even.

Anyone who harms it would be hunted down like a dog, and even the person's grandma would say, "I always knew he was plain no good! Fry 'em!"
I only remember it always fucking raining when I needed to return that fucking tape by 10pm or get charged for being late.
 
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Warr

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only 2 places in Austin and Denver
up to 30 people - $150 (pretax) + $150 in food (pre tax/tip) = choice of 40ish movies.
limits on people options are all the same price, but can pick smaller numbers. i don't know if these are the full sized rooms or smaller ones.

Goddamn if one of the Alamos here in Northern VA did that I'd drop $150 to see Fury Road in a heartbeat.
 
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Goatface

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cinemark is doing a $99 private rental at select locations, but no fury road, does have matrix. empire strikes back and about 15 other movies.

Host your own screening for up to 20 guests. Imagine snacking on popcorn, laughing with friends and family and enjoying your choice of one of our all-time, fan-favorite movies in the privacy and comfort of your own auditorium. Book online easily & instantly. Starting at only $99*!
 
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Cybsled

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I actually subscribed to blockbusters mail order DVD plan. You know, where you pay 10 dollars a month or wtf ever it was and you could pick 3 dvds to be sent in the mail, then you'd send them back and get 3 more, etc.

I wonder why netflix beat them at essentially the same thing. I can't even remember for how long I was a "member" of that.

Video rental stores were the thing to do once. We are getting old and nostalgic for sure.

It came too late. From what I recall, Netflix originally approached Blockbuster on their by-mail model and was looking for a buyout. Blockbuster laughed them out and they ended up building a successful model. I think by the time Blockbuster actually put their toe into that water, Netflix had already established itself and those Redbox things were starting to take off. The simultaneous hits to their physical rental model and competition on the by-mail space resulted in them going bankrupt.

Been a while since I watched this video (this guy does a good series of videos on businesses that failed, like K-Mart and Caldor and what have you), but it basically breaks down the rise and fall of Blockbuster

 
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spronk

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AMC sent out emails announcing they are reopening, they also let you cancel your A-List sub on the website now. I cancelled mine, I honestly can't see myself going to theaters the way i used to - 4-6x a month, solo, in the afternoons - for a long time

 
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Mahes

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All it will take is one story of an outbreak that originated in a theater and its all done. Its a coin toss at this point.
 

Goatface

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my area no longer reports the locations of outbreaks.

AMC Theatres, the nation's largest movie theater chain, will reopen in the U.S. on August 20 with retro ticket prices of 15 cents per movie.
 

Kiroy

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My hope is that the govt or someone steps in to prevent studios from owning these distribution chains (there may already be regulation preventing that, similar to how they won't let car companies just buy up all the dealerships). I'd prefer theaters go back to being owned by independent companies/people/groups rather than these massive chains, that they become more of a niche experience like they used to be.

I think that only happens if they are able to find a way to make their oceans of money via streaming. Otherwise, yeah, Disneyplex28 will be the only movie theater chain in the US and that will be that.

given what telecoms have gotten away with I wouldn't hold my breath
 

Hoss

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I actually subscribed to blockbusters mail order DVD plan. You know, where you pay 10 dollars a month or wtf ever it was and you could pick 3 dvds to be sent in the mail, then you'd send them back and get 3 more, etc.

I wonder why netflix beat them at essentially the same thing. I can't even remember for how long I was a "member" of that.

Video rental stores were the thing to do once. We are getting old and nostalgic for sure.

Netflix beat them to it by a lot and they had technology that allowed them to predict demand and store movies at strategic locations to get them out faster. The whole thing was netflix's idea. When blockbuster finally got into it, the website was garbage and delivery slow. Not only that, it was a loss leader for a long time while they were trying to catch up to netflix in subs. I bet you were only a member because they offered you like 100 free blockbuster bux. I can't remember the exact incentives but they literally had to pay customers to sign up and give it a try.
 

Fucker

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Netflix beat them to it by a lot and they had technology that allowed them to predict demand and store movies at strategic locations to get them out faster. The whole thing was netflix's idea. When blockbuster finally got into it, the website was garbage and delivery slow. Not only that, it was a loss leader for a long time while they were trying to catch up to netflix in subs. I bet you were only a member because they offered you like 100 free blockbuster bux. I can't remember the exact incentives but they literally had to pay customers to sign up and give it a try.

BB also scoffed at offering kiosks. Now, it's hard to find a store that doesn't have a Red Box machine in it. 42,000 as of 2019. BB is a top example of executive hubris as I have ever seen.
 
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Cybsled

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From that video I posted, it sounds like new leadership at Blockbuster doubles down on the stores and killed off their own Netflix competitor.