6 ms·

I would pay $10 a month to watch Game of Thrones, House of Cards, or other high production value TV shows on a big screen with other fans each week. I might eve

I would pay $10 a month to watch Game of Thrones, House of Cards, or other high production value TV shows on a big screen with other fans each week. I might even pay $20 or $30 a month for just those few months of new episodes for the latest season. I would even pay $10 a month for a few months to watch an episode of Band of Brothers each week. I really enjoy the movie theater viewing experience. Lately I've only gone to the theatre to see the new Star Wars or Pixar films (only because I am a fan of those two franchises). Nothing else that is being released interests me. I'm aware that some theatres book corporate trainings or private showings. I don't think it would be unreasonable for them to air new episodes of top television shows on the night of. It would be interesting to see what demand for that would look like.

AVTizzle 9y ago
GoT in theatres sounds amazing. Sign me up.
wastedhours 9y ago
That sounds perfect - I had a feeling I read somewhere that they don't do it because TV companies were charging by the showing (and maintaining interest over a run would wane), rather than a split screening/# tickets basis as for films.
Bartweiss 9y ago
I've seen some theaters that show Sherlock and other high-production TV, and they seem to do quite well with it. I haven't heard about GoT, though. As an side - what would the legality be if a group of people "booked" a theater to air a TV show? Would the theater or viewers be liable for holding a commercial screening using a private copy of the thing?
- tomjen3 9y ago
  >We’re not open to the general public. Do we still need a license? >Yes. According to Senate Report No. 94-473, p. 60, “performances in ‘semipublic’ places such as clubs, lodges, factories, summer camps and schools are ‘public performances’ subject to copyright control.” https://www.mplc.org/page/faqs https://www.mplc.org/page/faqs That presumably depends on whether the screening is only for e.g your family. Consult a lawyer.
  - schoen 9y ago
    The surprising breadth of "public performance" is the basis for the famous Girl Scout copyright royalty demand http://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/17/nyregion/ascap-asks-royalties-from-girl-scouts-and-regrets-it.html http://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/17/nyregion/ascap-asks-royalt... Movie theaters are familiar with risks in this area, so they might have their own rules about what you can and can't watch when you rent out a theater.
  - Bartweiss 9y ago
    Thanks for the source! Also, wow. I figured "rent a theater with strangers for a viewing" would be over the line, but I didn't realize that showing a DVD at a summer camp is technically illegal.
- jsjohnst 9y ago
  Back a decade ago I did all the tech setup to host a presidential election debate viewing at the Kobuki Theater in SF. I don't know the legality for sure, but I was lead to believe as long as it was invite only and you didn't charge for attending, it was legal. Again, IANAL, but I think as long as it's truly a private event among friends, I think you should be ok.
  - ValentineC 9y ago
    > I was lead to believe as long as it was invite only and you didn't charge for attending, it was legal. The UK seems to require a 'non-theatrical' film licence [1][2] for: - at one-off events - at film clubs - whether or not you sell tickets - in common areas for guests, residents and passengers - in retail and entertainment venues [1] https://www.gov.uk/showing-films-in-public https://www.gov.uk/showing-films-in-public [2] https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/copyright/2014/08/01/film-clubs/ https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/copyright/2014/08/01/film-clubs/
vkjv 9y ago
Me too! It's kind of been done, but not in a great way. https://www.amctheatres.com/movies/game-of-thrones-the-imax-experience https://www.amctheatres.com/movies/game-of-thrones-the-imax-...
te_chris 9y ago
In London pubs with Sky sometimes show it like sports - not quite the same, but, y'know.
SaladFork 9y ago
What is it about the theater experience you enjoy? It's not too expensive to set up a theater-like setup at home. A home projector and decent screen are around $1k. I've been watching Game of Thrones (and others) on a 110" screen for a few seasons now and couldn't recommend it more.
- moretai 9y ago
  For me, it's top notch sound quality.
- andruby 9y ago
  It's the whole experience. The huge screen. The sound. The seats. The memories of going there as a teenager on a date. Watching a movie together with 200 other people. Zero distractions. I still love going to the theater.
  - scarface74 9y ago
    I hate going to a regular movie theatre. They are huge, crowded, you have to get there early to get a good seat, the chairs are uncomfortable, etc. On the other hand, I love going to higher end movie theatres that aren't large, you get to pick and reserve your seats online, they have reclining chairs and one of the theatres I go to serves food while you watch.
- josiahpeters 9y ago
  I don't have a large enough house to have a great theater experience without waking my kids up by enjoying the sound at the volume it should be at. Also, I don't want my three year old repeating the words of Tyrion Lannister.

AVTizzle 9y ago

GoT in theatres sounds amazing. Sign me up.

wastedhours 9y ago

That sounds perfect - I had a feeling I read somewhere that they don't do it because TV companies were charging by the showing (and maintaining interest over a run would wane), rather than a split screening/# tickets basis as for films.

Bartweiss 9y ago

I've seen some theaters that show Sherlock and other high-production TV, and they seem to do quite well with it. I haven't heard about GoT, though. As an side - what would the legality be if a group of people "booked" a theater to air a TV show? Would the theater or viewers be liable for holding a commercial screening using a private copy of the thing?

tomjen3 9y ago
>We’re not open to the general public. Do we still need a license? >Yes. According to Senate Report No. 94-473, p. 60, “performances in ‘semipublic’ places such as clubs, lodges, factories, summer camps and schools are ‘public performances’ subject to copyright control.” https://www.mplc.org/page/faqs https://www.mplc.org/page/faqs That presumably depends on whether the screening is only for e.g your family. Consult a lawyer.
- schoen 9y ago
  The surprising breadth of "public performance" is the basis for the famous Girl Scout copyright royalty demand http://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/17/nyregion/ascap-asks-royalties-from-girl-scouts-and-regrets-it.html http://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/17/nyregion/ascap-asks-royalt... Movie theaters are familiar with risks in this area, so they might have their own rules about what you can and can't watch when you rent out a theater.
- Bartweiss 9y ago
  Thanks for the source! Also, wow. I figured "rent a theater with strangers for a viewing" would be over the line, but I didn't realize that showing a DVD at a summer camp is technically illegal.
jsjohnst 9y ago
Back a decade ago I did all the tech setup to host a presidential election debate viewing at the Kobuki Theater in SF. I don't know the legality for sure, but I was lead to believe as long as it was invite only and you didn't charge for attending, it was legal. Again, IANAL, but I think as long as it's truly a private event among friends, I think you should be ok.
- ValentineC 9y ago
  > I was lead to believe as long as it was invite only and you didn't charge for attending, it was legal. The UK seems to require a 'non-theatrical' film licence [1][2] for: - at one-off events - at film clubs - whether or not you sell tickets - in common areas for guests, residents and passengers - in retail and entertainment venues [1] https://www.gov.uk/showing-films-in-public https://www.gov.uk/showing-films-in-public [2] https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/copyright/2014/08/01/film-clubs/ https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/copyright/2014/08/01/film-clubs/

vkjv 9y ago

Me too! It's kind of been done, but not in a great way. https://www.amctheatres.com/movies/game-of-thrones-the-imax-experience https://www.amctheatres.com/movies/game-of-thrones-the-imax-...

te_chris 9y ago

In London pubs with Sky sometimes show it like sports - not quite the same, but, y'know.

SaladFork 9y ago

What is it about the theater experience you enjoy? It's not too expensive to set up a theater-like setup at home. A home projector and decent screen are around $1k. I've been watching Game of Thrones (and others) on a 110" screen for a few seasons now and couldn't recommend it more.

moretai 9y ago
For me, it's top notch sound quality.
andruby 9y ago
It's the whole experience. The huge screen. The sound. The seats. The memories of going there as a teenager on a date. Watching a movie together with 200 other people. Zero distractions. I still love going to the theater.
- scarface74 9y ago
  I hate going to a regular movie theatre. They are huge, crowded, you have to get there early to get a good seat, the chairs are uncomfortable, etc. On the other hand, I love going to higher end movie theatres that aren't large, you get to pick and reserve your seats online, they have reclining chairs and one of the theatres I go to serves food while you watch.
josiahpeters 9y ago
I don't have a large enough house to have a great theater experience without waking my kids up by enjoying the sound at the volume it should be at. Also, I don't want my three year old repeating the words of Tyrion Lannister.