When Napster and Facebook entrepreneur Sean Parker first revealed his plan to offer major studios releases day-and-date at home for $50, the industry recoiled. Cinema owners in particular balked, fearing their already dwindling audience might start staying away in bigger numbers, while filmmakers were split on the issue. As for the studios themselves, Parker’s idea intrigued them, though not enough to work with him. Instead, it was revealed earlier this year, that Fox, Universal and Warner Bros.

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For years, Hollywood has watched (and frequently lawyered up) as third party companies, such as ClearPlay and VidAngel, recut their films without permission, took out all the swearing, sex, and excessive violence and offered them to audiences who wanted to watch movies clean versions of hit movies. I don’t understand why somebody would bother in the first place with a cleaned up version of “Deadpool,” for example, but Sony is now hoping to tap into that market, and instead of paying for lawyers, just offer up clean edits of their own films.

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It looks like the window between theatrical release and video on demand may be shrinking, as Variety reports that Fox, Universal and Warner Brothers are “showing greater flexibility with timing.” While most major films are currently available to digitally buy 70 days and rent 90 days after theatrical release, Warner Bros’. CEO Kevin Tsujiihara has expressed interest in shortening that window to 17 days with a $50 rental premium on films.

That $50 premium, however, was seen as too high for Fox and Universal, who would like to have a longer theatrical run, about 30 to 45 days, and a lowered at-home rental cost of $30.

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Apple Eyes Going Hollywood By Creating Original Films And TV Shows

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Watch: 6 Trailers And 15 Clips For The 'Star Wars' Digital Movie Collection

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Johnny Depp's Misfire 'Mortdecai' Given PG-13 Cut For VOD Release

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This Might Be Getting Ridiculous: Overstock.com Launching Streaming Service

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David Simon Talks Controversial Widescreen Conversion Of 'The Wire' For HD

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Stream This: 'Tapeheads,' 'Bad Milo!,' 'Boy A' & More On VOD This Week

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Stream This: 'Ain't Them Bodies Saints,' 'A Single Shot,' Films From Wong Kar-Wai & More On VOD This Week

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Stream This: 'Arbitrage,' 'And While We Were Here,' Gary Oldman In 'State Of Grace' & More On VOD This Week

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Stream This: 'Lovelace,' 'Prince Avalanche,' 'Breaking Bad' & More On VOD This Week

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Stream This: 'The Canyons,' Brian De Palma's 'Passion,' 'On The Road' & More On VOD This Week

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Stream This: 'Mud,' Hugh Jackman In 'The Fountain,' Woody Allen's 'The Purple Rose Of Cairo' & More on VOD This Week

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Stream This: 'Grabbers,' Jeff Bridges in 'Fat City,' Ryan Gosling in 'The United States of Leland' & More On VOD This Week

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Stream This: Michael Cera’s ‘Crystal Fairy,’ David Lynch Criterion Shorts, Adam Sandler, Guillermo del Toro Movies & More

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Stream This: Benedict Cumberbatch in 'Wreckers,' Spike Lee's Doc 'Bad 25' & More On VOD This Week

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