Can a movie be shown on an airplane or on HBO before it comes out on
video or DVD?  My boyfriend said he saw Bourne Idenity before it came
out on video and he swears he didn't see it at the movies, (because if
he did that would mean he was cheating on me).  What do you think?

Hi Scoobylu ~

What an interesting question! I knew off the top of my head that the
answer was yes ... sometimes movies on VHS and/or DVD are (or seem to
be) released first to HBO or to the travel/airline industry, but
finding the mention of it and how it is done  proved to be a lot more
difficult to find than I thought it would be.

There are several sources on the Internet that provide upcoming
release dates, but none really explained methodology, or how some
parts of the country seemed to get it before others, etc.

The closest I came to an explanation was Jim Taylor's Digital Bits -
DVD FAQ at:

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/

In question No. 1.10, he explains the terms "regional codes," "country
codes," or "zone locks" ... and how studios, such as Fox, Buena
Vista/Touchstone/Miramax, MGM/Universal, Polygram, and Columbia
TriStar make different arrangements for a number of reasons for
different release dates to different regions and zones.

Therefore, a movie may be released on DVD or VHS for the West Coast or
to HBO before it is released on the East Coast (or vice versa).
Likewise, the airlines and cruiselines often get them before they are
released for sale nationally. Likewise, they may be released to a
rental chain before they are actually available for sale at the retail
level.

Question No. 6 in the FAQs also touch on regional and special relase
dates.


Search terms:
DVD VHS release dates
DVD VHS previews
DVD VHS airline releases
airline movie acquisitions
(I told you it was hard to figure out where the info was :)

I hope this answers your question and that you can rest easier!

Yours ever so,
Serenata

Thanks

Yes, I watched the first Harry Potter movie on an airline a while
before it came out on video!

From an international travel to/from Australia point of view, I get to
see current release movies on flights. By current release I mean still
screening in the USA.

But I guess if he saw it on an international flight you weren't aware
of, that would be a whole lot worse than a cinema date...