AMC will launch their own competitor to iTunes, Amazon Prime Video, Walmart’s Vudu, and RedBox. The service, called AMC Theaters On Demand, will not compete with those like Netflix, at least initially, will offer on-demand movie rental and purchases at similar prices for new releases. The service will launch on Tuesday with about 2,000 titles after making deals will the major studios like Disney, Universal, Warner Bros., and Sony.
The entry of AMC into the space is not surprising, but they are certainly entering one that is crowded with existing options. The service won’t offer new releases any sooner than the other digital download services either. AMC Theaters will honor the minimum 90 day window that theaters require.
With a theater exhibitor like AMC, shrinking the window could ultimately be their differentiator in the space. Startups in the past have tried to work to bring expensive new releases direct to consumer, but theater owners have stopped them from making deals with movie studios. Someone like AMC could offer studios the option to bring them direct to consumer using their service exclusively.
But at least for now, AMC is just trying to drive incremental revenue from theater-goers who may want to see a movie again after seeing it in theaters.