Summit Entertainment is the latest distributor to experiment with the video-on-demand window, announcing that “Source Code” will be available on VOD July 8 — some 68 days after its April 1 theatrical release but two weeks before the thriller bows on DVD and Blu-ray.
That window is eight days longer than the new $30 60-day premium window that Fox, Sony, Universal and Warner Bros. established this spring with DirecTV. The mini-major, which was not a part of those deals, is still bucking the traditional VOD model, in which on-demand titles are available at the same time as DVD releases for around $5. “Source Code” earned $110 million worldwide.
There are no specifics yet on pricing; it’s up to the cablers, satcasters and e-tailers to set that figure — not studios. However, since the early “Code” release is considered a test, none of the service providers are expected to raise the price much beyond the current $5 figure.
