Gay Netflix: why no good DVDs?

**sc32803** · 03-14-2008, 07:44 PM

I was just checking out BoyToyDVD.com and was reminded about how it seems like these gay Netflix-like services never seem to offer the latest DVD releases. They seem to be populated by bargain basement titles, as if these sites are run by straight people who have no clue what makes a high quality gay porn DVD (although all they really need to do is read the rental rankings in magazines like AVN).

Here's an example: I did a search for "Grunts" (currently number 1 at Naked Sword) on BoyToyDVD, MaleBoxDVD and GayDVDMovieRentals and noboddy was offering it. There are other similair "hot" titles nowhere to be found on these rental sites.

Now it would seem to me that if I was running a biz like this I would do what NetFlix does: buy a bunch of the hot releases so more members can see them, then when the title dies down, sell the used DVDs at a discount.

Here's my question: do you think there is some rule or something that allows the major gay studios to restrict their titles from being rented by internet adult Netflix-clones? Seems like that would violate some kind of trade law.

I'm just curious what other explanation there could be for the lack of hot titles on these services.

Or if you know of a rental site that does have the hot releases, please share!

**gaybucks_chip** · 03-14-2008, 09:04 PM

We've had a couple of rental places contact us, but we are exclusive with Marina Pacific and are one of their more expensive lines, so I've heard the complaint that the rental places don't want to pay the prices that the top studios get at wholesale for their product.

Even at wholesale, most of the top selling DVD lines go for between $25-36 each, but many of the smaller selling DVD lines can be bought direct from the studio at $12-18, sometimes as low as $8-10. So for the rental place, they can buy perhaps 3 to 5 "value" titles for the cost of one major studio title. If they buy from one of the clearance places, they can buy gay titles for $3-5 each. So it's most likely an issue of having lots of titles available for rent vs having far fewer if they bought the more expensive titles.

**sc32803** · 03-15-2008, 10:22 AM

I thought about the cost issue but I guess I was thinking that a service that invested in the top titles would make their money back eventually. I mean, there are local video rental stores all over that have the top titles so I would imagine that an internet service with a much larger customer base could do the same.

I was really wondering if there was another reason besides cost, like the major studios prohibiting their titles from being rented over the internet.

**Jasun** · 03-15-2008, 12:15 PM

Probably that they haven't approached a lot of the big studios.

We're not a big DVD studio yet, but we're sure getting up there... nobody has contacted us about it.

Getting companies to get in on the ground floor of something like that would have to work for us... what's in it for us?

**gaybucks_chip** · 03-15-2008, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by Jasun

Getting companies to get in on the ground floor of something like that would have to work for us... what's in it for us?

That's the other issue... not much. The companies want to buy the titles and rent them out and make the money for it. Other than exposure, there isn't much to be gained, and high visiblity studios prolly feel they don't need the exposure, so don't offer deals.

**abostonboy** · 03-15-2008, 04:30 PM

Do studios allow these rental companies to buy at the regular price? Netflix doesn't buy a DVD at the same price as you and me. From what I was told they actually pay a premium price. Could be wrong on that one.

**Jasun** · 03-15-2008, 09:20 PM

If they want to buy the DVDs for Rental price... IE $200 per title..

I'd be willing to talk.
:goatse:

**gaybucks_chip** · 03-15-2008, 10:38 PM

Our experience is we've found a few sites renting our stuff that they bought either at retail or from our distributor.

Even though our DVDs say right on the back that they are not licensed for rental use, commercial exhibition, etc., the rental companies haven't been very accommodating when we've tried to discuss with them, and it's one of those things where, so far at least, it hasn't been worth the hassle for us to go after them.

Apparently Bryan Kocis at Cobra was venomous about such things and aggressively went after anyone using his content in video booths or rental programs and so forth and vigorously threatened to sue them into oblivion... which had the not-surprising effect of simply getting the threatened stores to drop his titles entirely. Probably not the wisest move.