But 17?” says Randy Greenberg, executive producer of The Meg and entertainment strategy consultant at The Greenberg Group. “We all would have understood 30 or 45 days, that is what we expected at some point. “Seventy-five days to 17 is a watershed moment for this industry,” notes analyst Rich Greenfield, co-founder of LightShed Partners. What has stunned observers is the drastic cut to the theatrical window – an acceleration, brought on by the pandemic, of a long process that has seen exhibition fight off wave after wave of existential threats from TV to VHS to DVD and streaming. The deal, announced on Tuesday (July 27), allows Universal Filmed Entertainment Group (UFEG) to put Universal and Focus Features films that screen at AMC’s US venues on PVoD after a minimum of 17 days.ĪMC gets a share of the revenue – unconfirmed estimates have put it at 10% – and will be allowed to play the films on its own streaming site. The agreement between Universal and AMC Theatres is a watershed moment that accelerates the collapse of the theatrical window and does nothing to alleviate the ailing condition of the exhibition sector, according to insiders.

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