Bewkes adopts conciliatory tone on Netflix, talks premium VOD

Having previously attacked Netflix, Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes has taken a more inclusive stance on the streaming and rental service. 

Speaking at a conference session at the Tribeca Film Festival, the Bewkes said: “I do have a fondness for subscription television, and Netflix is subscription television. So, welcome, brother.” He had previously said the service was over hyped and undermining traditional distribution models.

Bewkes also addressed the much talked about super premium video-on-demand window that is causing consternation among movie theatre owners. He said that films generally only have a three-week theatrical shelf life before the DVD release, which comes months later and that they are particularly vulnerable to piracy in the period between theatrical and DVD release.

However, he added that Time Warner and its peers also have to have the theatre owners’ interests in mind.