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The Interview: Sony announces controversial film will be available to rent online from Christmas Day | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The Interview, the controversial comedy at the centre of a cyberattack scandal, will be available to rent on online platforms from Christmas Day, Sony announced today. | |
Viewers will be able to rent the film from Google Play, YouTube Movies, Microsoft's Xbox Video and a separate Sony website from Wednesday. | |
The online release of the Sony Pictures film will coincide with the movie's showing at a small number of US theatres. | The online release of the Sony Pictures film will coincide with the movie's showing at a small number of US theatres. |
Some 200 independent theatres are to show the film on Christmas Day, after major chains refused, following threats from hackers. | |
On Tuesday, Sony said it was trying to secure other platforms so The Interview could reach the largest possible audience. | On Tuesday, Sony said it was trying to secure other platforms so The Interview could reach the largest possible audience. |
However, no cable or satellite TV operator has yet agreed to make The Interview available through video on demand. | However, no cable or satellite TV operator has yet agreed to make The Interview available through video on demand. |
The studio also held talks with Apple Inc about making the comedy available on its iTunes store, but the negotiations broke down, CNN said, citing two anonymous sources. | The studio also held talks with Apple Inc about making the comedy available on its iTunes store, but the negotiations broke down, CNN said, citing two anonymous sources. |
If YouTube's plans go ahead, the deal will mark first the time a studio movie has be shown simultaneously in theatres and on demand. | If YouTube's plans go ahead, the deal will mark first the time a studio movie has be shown simultaneously in theatres and on demand. |
Usually, larger studio films aren't made available on digital platforms for at least a few months after the initial theatrical release, to ensure maximizing theater box office. | Usually, larger studio films aren't made available on digital platforms for at least a few months after the initial theatrical release, to ensure maximizing theater box office. |
The talks come after Sony Pictures said it was cancelling showings of the controversial film, in response to threats of violence from hackers which said cinemas would face 9/11-style attacks. | |
But Sony said yesterday that it would in fact show it in some cinemas, wining plaudits from President Barack Obama. | |
Additional reporting by Reuters | Additional reporting by Reuters |
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