Prediction: Major studio goes day-and-date

December 21, 2007 After years of rabble-rousing execs touting -- and exhibitors fearing -- the simultaneous release of a big movie in theaters and VOD, a studio finally will pull the trigger in 2008. Hungry fans still will line up at the boxoffice, while others will pay $50-$60 to host opening-weekend parties in their living rooms, pay-per-view-boxing style. Exhibitors would make plenty of unhappy noise, but the first studio to go day-and-date likely will cut theater owners in on the television profits, and a windows war will be averted -- for now.

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