Ally Distribution, a Seattle based company that specializes in the distribution of action sports films, has released a new digital download service for company’s’ Web sites. The player is an embeddable widget (hosted by a third party), which allows retailer and industry Web sites alike to offer high-quality, digital downloads similar to iTunes.  The full-length downloadable films are compatible with all platforms and all portable media devices.  According to Rep Mike “Gags” Gagliardi; “There are no out-of-pocket costs, no set-up costs, no inventory, and it’s free to sign up.  Any person visiting your website has the opportunity to download a full movie for a decent price. My shops just collect a check every month.”

The service was developed in response to a changing landscape in the distribution of action sports videos, which has film makers and retailers alike searching for a more profitable model. Transworld Business caught up with Ally Distribution Marketing and Sales Manager Tommy Monette to learn more.

TWB:  Has this gone live on any sites?

TM: Yes it has, we officially launched last Friday (the 17th) and 30 key retailers nationwide have already posted it on their sites with more adding daily. check out:
www.emage.tv (Denver)
www.eternalsnow.com (Tahoe)
www.evogear.com (Seattle)

TWB:  Why do you think this will work for the snowboarding film market?

TM: That’s a great question.  iTunes has traditionally been a vehicle to sell Apple’s hardware, music is inexpensive, and feature length films have been priced significantly under market value.  While iTunes has recently raised their pricing, film producers and bands still have to ’sit at the kids table’ so to speak, because the actual content sales from iTunes doesn’t pay out.  As a snowboard film maker, of course you want your film on iTunes as it’s such a visible place, but you risk cannibalizing relationships with retailers whose DVD sales are down, or who want to offer downloads themselves.  Snowboarding is a culture, one that is bred on the pages of magazines, in snowboard films, and on the retail shop floor.  This is a way for us to help keep everything in the family–snowboard films to snowboard shops to people who snowboard.  We also are adding titles to the player each week, these not only include all the new banger films, but a lot of the ones that never made it to DVD, the classics.

TWB:  What do you think the future of the industry/distribution model is?

TM: I don’t think the distribution model will change that much, digital downloads are just another vehicle to present content.  Distributors are still going to be fighting tooth and nail for the films they want to be associated with, producers are still going to shoot for the deal, and we’re still going to try and work as hard as we can for both the retailers and the producers we deal with.  There’s just more to fight for now, as we’re not just talking about DVD’s anymore.

TWB: What has feedback from retailers/manufacturers been so far?

TM: It’s been amazing!  All last show season, retailers continually asked us what we were doing on our end to allow them to compete with iTunes and other similar entities.  We found the perfect partner to develop this software with, and it’s been working incredibly well.  Retailers who understand online business and do it well have all been really excited with this.  Since we’re only offering digital downloads through the player, there obviously isn’t any inventory or shipping, it’s green, and it’s free for them to host on their respective sites.  Basically, they put it on their site, offer downloads to savvy online consumers, and collect a check each month.  It’s a great revenue generating model for producers as well, as it cuts down on replication/production costs, and allows them to get their films out much sooner.

TWB: Do you get a cut of the fee?

TM: Yes, Ally gets a very small share of each download, the retailer or host website takes a percentage, and the lion’s share goes to the producer of the film.

TWB: How do customers pay for it?

TM: All payment is handled on the player itself, it doesn’t link off the host site–Visa, MC, Amex, and Discover are all accepted.

Tags: action sports film distribution, ally distribution, snowboard movies

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