Cinemark Threatens Boycott Of Universals Tower Heist Over Early VOD Experiment

Cinemark, the nation’s third largest movie theater chain, today threatened not to carry Universal’s upcoming heist comedy Tower Heist over the studio’s plan to offer the movie on video-on-demand just 3 weeks after its release. The VOD test is being planned for 2 markets, Portland and Atlanta, at a price of $59.99. “Cinemark has urged Universal Pictures to reconsider its market test of this product,” Cinemark said in a statement. “If Universal Pictures moves forward with itsTower Heist premium video-on-demand offering, as announced, Cinemark has determined, in its best business interests, that it will decline to exhibit this film in its theatres.”