Disney’s trying something new and different, in a move that looks like it’ll make theatre owners cringe still further. Apparently, Disney will be offering FREE STREAMING VIDEO of several of their full-length money machines–by that of course I mean movies–following their airing on Wonderful World of Disney this summer on ABC. Plans are to show one single commercial at the beginning of said film (amazing restraint on Disney’s part, in all honesty) and then the film will begin playing.

There’s no word yet as to whether or not the films streamed will be the full theatrical versions or the edited-for-television versions, but my guess would be the same one they just showed on Wonderful World of Disney.

And why the boys at Carmike and AMC et al should be quaking in their footwear is because this might be an example of what’s going to kill their entire industry. If Disney is willing to offer films to the public and accept only the revenue generated by that one commercial, what’s to stop Columbia and Universal and New Line and Lions Gate from doing the exact same thing?

I’ve said it before and it bears repeating–the equipment you can buy is getting better with each passing day, the availability of movies is more and more prevalent, and the motivation to pass on the theatre jumps every time the price of gas does.

And for the sake of keeping up with what all you’re seeing, try the Disney movie trivia on Kwanzoo.

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