DISH to Debut New Movie Same Day as Theaters

ENGLEWOOD: The new movie Passion Play, starring Mickey Rourke, Billy Murray and Megan Fox, will be available through DISH Network starting the same day it hits theaters.

The film, about an angel who is under the thumb of a ruthless gangster and is eventually saved by a struggling jazz musician, becomes available to DISH Network customers on May 6, the same day as its theatrical debut. DISH customers can rent Passion Play in HD for $5.99 or standard definition for $4.99.

This marks another effort by TV service providers to expand the nascent premium VOD window. DIRECTV has already begun offering select major theatrical releases on its premium VOD service in a window 60 days after the box-office debut. The moves have been met with heavy opposition from the filmmaking community. The National Association of Theater Owners (NATO) recently released an open letter criticizing plans by studios and platforms for the early-to-the-home premium VOD services, which its says "could irrevocably harm the financial model of our film industry."

"DISH Cinema offers our customers the hottest Hollywood hits, and we’re thrilled to deliver Passion Play in HD on the same day it’s available in theaters," said Dave Shull, the senior VP of programming for DISH Network. "DISH Network is committed to giving our customers the best in-home movie experience. Not only do we offer movies simultaneously with the theatrical release, but also we give our customers access to a huge library of movies available 28 days before Netflix and redbox, as well as on the same day or prior to DVD release."