Re:Popcorn Time repository unavailable due to DMCA takedown
by toyg on Tuesday May 05, 2020 @05:32AM
(#23078129)
Man, they’ve been “chased” basically from day 1, this is not their first DMCA rodeo.
It’s just that the studios have been forced by the pandemic to concentrate exclusively on online channels. See for example the latest Trolls movie, which just made $100m in his first week on streaming: that’s considered fantastic (and possibly a turning point) but it’s still half of what the previous movie made with a classic release in theatres a few years ago. Most “tentpole” releases are on hold and they have to keep pumping ads to keep the hype up. Cashflow must be fairly tight.
So the studios right now need all the help they can get, in order to squeeze money out of digital channels. Taking “off the board” alternatives like PopcornTime, even if just for the 2 weeks DMCA forces ISPs to obey, increases their chances. I would expect they’re ready to repeat the trick a few times from a few different entities, at least until the pandemic is over and people can go back to real (overpriced) popcorn.
It’s just that the studios have been forced by the pandemic to concentrate exclusively on online channels. See for example the latest Trolls movie, which just made $100m in his first week on streaming: that’s considered fantastic (and possibly a turning point) but it’s still half of what the previous movie made with a classic release in theatres a few years ago. Most “tentpole” releases are on hold and they have to keep pumping ads to keep the hype up. Cashflow must be fairly tight.
So the studios right now need all the help they can get, in order to squeeze money out of digital channels. Taking “off the board” alternatives like PopcornTime, even if just for the 2 weeks DMCA forces ISPs to obey, increases their chances. I would expect they’re ready to repeat the trick a few times from a few different entities, at least until the pandemic is over and people can go back to real (overpriced) popcorn.