Time Warner talks movie industry, rental kiosks

Warner Home Video and other movie studios are working on pricing plans that will allow them to better compete with Redbox and similar rental kiosks, according to Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes.

“I think there will be [a push for higher prices on new releases from studios] and I think [these efforts] are underway now,” Bewkes said during an investor meeting.  “We think there is a place for what I would call very low-priced rental but not obviously in the middle of when you are trying to sell higher-priced rental and [sellthrough].”

Furthermore, movie studios are working with kiosk operators to try and charge more for newly released content, and will delay lower-priced rentals until later.

Considering all of the pressure Redbox has received from a couple of different Hollywood studios, seeing the two sides work together could be a very interesting move.  Redbox charges just $1 per night per movie for rentals — and has all newly released movies — and it’d be a shame to see the price go up because of some type of partnership.

Along with Redbox and other rental kiosks, Time Warner also is working with Netflix, including a revenue-sharing provision, that will help Time Warner essentially make money off of Netflix’s overall popularity and success.