Report finds online streaming could be as profitable as TV & movie distro

By simply charging a $15 monthly fee to just 45% of online subscribers to access every movie ever produced – past and future – online sales could flat-out replace TV and movie revenue in the industry.

This according to a just-released report from Generator Research this year.

I think we’re definitely headed that direction, though there will be plenty of disruption along the way, when you consider what it would do to DVD production houses, retail sales outlets (bye bye, F.Y.I. and Sam Goody’s), and of course much of the revenue from on-demand satellite and cable services.

Imagine how cool it would be to be able to call up ANY film at your fingertips at ANY time. We’re practically there already, and I’d even be willing to bit more than $15 for the privilege.

I welcome such a future, but with the good comes some bad: I think we’ll also soon grow to miss the gatekeeping those services provide. When you’re awash in a seemingly endless sea of films ranging from excellent to terrible, will the cream truly rise to the top? If you already hate pawing through those bins of discs at Wal-Mart, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.