AMC Networks, which owns and operates AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel, WE tv and IFC Films, announced the launch of YEAH! (www.YEAHTV.com), a new way to watch movies online. Each YEAH! film is enhanced with interactive features including 400-500 individual pieces of original content curated from in-depth research. Films cost $4.99 and are currently available for 48 hours.
The new bonus content is displayed on-screen seamlessly without obscuring the movie, offering fans a choice of unique extras to engage with such as:
–Intimate, never-before-seen, exclusive interviews with filmmakers and stars — with just a click the movie pauses and the interview plays
–Little-known facts about characters and scenes minute-by-minute throughout each film
–Quizzes that test how well you really know your favorite movies
YEAH! launched at SXSW in Austin with films immediately available for rent online. A YEAH! iPad app will be introduced this summer.
YEAH! features iconic genre films — including sci-fi, horror and action-adventure. More extra interactive feature examples include:
–Hear Richard Donner describe how Marlon Brando wanted his Superman character “Jor-El” to look like a bagel
–Watch Juliette Lewis and Tom Sizemore disagree on how his nose was broken while filming Natural Born Killers
–Learn from Michael Madsen how Quentin Tarantino and Lawrence Tierney nearly came to blows on the set of Reservoir Dogs
–Find out real-life events that inspired Wes Craven to create A Nightmare on Elm Street
“YEAH! is the ultimate movie viewing experience,” said Lisa Judson, YEAH! GM “The films on YEAH! are curated by a team of Emmy Award winning producers who are true movie fans. Two months of in-depth research goes into every film curation to create an entirely new way for fans to enjoy their favorite movies.”
Films that will be available for rent in the coming months include: Scream, Reservoir Dogs, 300, The Terminator, Clerks, A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Crow, The Exorcist: Director’s Cut, Superman: The Movie, Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2, Kill Bill Volumes 1 & 2, Child’s Play, No Country for Old Men, Pulp Fiction, The Expendables, Blade Runner: The Final Cut, Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, Dirty Dancing, The Shining, Watchmen, This is Spinal Tap, The Blair Witch Project, Jackie Brown, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, Apocalypse Now Redux, From Dusk Till Dawn, Natural Born Killers, and Hannibal.
RBR-TVBR observation: Sounds like a great idea, as long as it isn’t too intrusive to the film. If nothing else, it’s an experiment that may carve out the future of online movie rental industry. Certainly, they should offer up the same thing for less cost for their hit shows like Mad Men, Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead.
