Europeans see Web as a Means to Beat Hollywood
In a statement released at Cannes today, European culture ministers and film industry execs claimed that the web will be a critical component in freeing Hollywood's grip on their domestic film industries:
"The advent of film online offers immense opportunities for the film industry both with regard to access to new audiences and with regard to wider circulation of European films, including on international markets," they said in a statement.Personally, I think this statement reads like its the "world wide web" circa 1996. Online distribution is not a panacea, but rather just another form of "bucket" that content is carried in, just like DVDs, VHS Tapes, and 16mm prints that preceded it. The studios have become adept at using technology, and their adoption of the internet as a marketing channel hasn't been any different. Okay -- I admit, they were initially slow in "getting" it (and a few still haven't), but it would be hard to deny that their online marketing skills are getting better by the day. Realistically, if European countries wish to compete in the digital film distribution arena, they need to be more effective and innovative in finding online audiences than American movie studios. A proprietary content delivery system and quality content are paramount as well...
"Audiences are often currently deprived of access to certain films -- either for geographical reasons or because more artistic or experimental films have difficulty in being screened widely."