South Korea forms committee to draft film holdback rules
South Korea has established a joint public-private committee to discuss and establish "holdback" rules for films, which would mandate a waiting period before movies released in theaters can appear on streaming platforms. The Ministry of Culture aims to finalize an agreement on these rules by August. This initiative directly impacts the distribution strategies of streaming services and film exhibitors in the region.
Key Takeaways
- The Ministry of Culture launched a public-private consultative body on May 29 in Seoul.
- The proposed holdback system would require a waiting period after theatrical release before streaming availability.
- Authorities are aiming to reach a deal on the rules by August.
- The policy directly affects film distribution strategies for streaming services and cinema exhibitors in South Korea.
Why It Matters
The immediate effect is a formal policy process around film windowing: South Korea is now քննարկing a mandatory delay before theatrical titles can move to streaming platforms. That matters because holdback rules directly shape release timing for streaming services and film exhibitors, which have different incentives around how quickly a movie leaves cinemas. The Ministry of Culture’s August target is the key marker to watch, since it indicates when a final agreement on the waiting period may emerge.
Read full article at msn.com