Films could be available to rent just two weeks after screening in cinemas, according to studios

IMAGINE being able to watch a movie from the comfort of your house, only two weeks after it had been released in cinemas. It could soon be a reality.

Imagine being able to watch this at home two weeks after release.

IMAGINE being able to watch a movie from the comfort of your house, only two weeks after it had been released in cinemas.

This is the dream envisioned by Hollywood studios looking for an answer to piracy and dwindling home entertainment revenue.

Head of Warner Bros Kevin Tsujihara announced his studio had been having “constructive” talks with theatre chains about the concept.

He said he believed the studios could create a premium home-video offering, which would cost between $A33 to $A66 per rental for new release films.

“We’re working with [exhibitors] to try and create a new window,” he said, reports Bloomberg.

“But regardless of whether it happens or not — whether we are able to reach that agreement with them, we have to offer consumers more choices earlier.”

Universal Pictures also announced it was also holding discussions with exhibitors to discuss ways of making movies available faster to consumers.

Cinemas previously had exclusive rights for up to six months, although recent times have seen this period shrink to around 90 days.

Sometimes you want to watch a new movie without having to leave home.

While this proposed two-week window would be beneficial for customers, getting theatre owners to agree could be challenging.

Last year, exhibitors shunned films from Paramount Pictures because the studio planned to release them on home video just seven weeks after appearing in cinemas.

In September, 21st Century Fox chief executive James Murdoch said cinemas needed to be less concerned about the duration of exclusive screening periods.

“[It’s these] crazy holdbacks that the theatre owners put in place in terms of these blackout periods, that really make a lot of problems for movies,” he said.

“Our business rules are of no interest to families who just want to see the movie.”

Analyst Barton Crockett said there would need to be more discussions before any decisions were made.

“It is a very difficult knot to unravel,” he said. “Everyone understands consumer tastes are changing and there is pressure to innovate.”

Do you think the concept is a good idea? Continue the conversation on Twitter or Facebook.