Conflicting Stories: Piracy, Theaters, and DVD

Yesterday, I read a couple of interesting things in the Studio Briefing at the Internet Movie Database. I'll let you read them, before I comment:

One of Four Internet Users Pirates Movies, Says MPAA
One out of every four Internet users worldwide have illegally downloaded a movie, according to a study conducted for the Motion Picture Association of America. Casting doubt on claims by consumer advocates that movie downloaders continue to go to movies anyhow, even to see films that they've already downloaded, the study found that 17 percent of those surveyed spend less at the box office and at DVD retail outlets. MPAA spokesman Matt Grossman told today's (Friday) Hollywood Reporter and the study "indicates a direct correlation between illegal downloading online and of a legitimate market being negatively impacted."

And:

Viewers Watching More DVDs
Network ratings last week may have been well off the pace they set in 1999, but according to the latest figures from the company, that didn't mean that people walked away from their TV sets. In fact, if they had a DVD player, they were spending a lot of time in front of those sets, with purchases of DVDs up 30 percent from the comparable week a year ago. (Rentals were down 20 percent.)

Is it me, or do these two stories appearing on the same page strike you as strange? First they're telling us that 25% of the world's internet users are downloading illegal movies and that they are not watching them as much legally, cutting into their profits. Then they tell us that DVD sales are up from last year. Why are they presenting such conflicting information?

First, I am not sure I believe the claim of the first article. I know people, not me, that download films, yet still spend a good deal of time in the theater, sometimes going to see the same film multiple times. Plus, they still go out and buy legit films. Second, why would the editors put both of these stories on the same page? It doesn't make sense.

I am more apt to believe the second column. My reasoning is that that the studios are putting out good product, and the audience is there. Me along with many other people, internet users or not, will support the good work of these studios. If they treat the product with respect, it will be bought.

The 1 in 4 figure may or may not be accurate, but to see some of growing numbers of anti-piracy net users, go visit The Home Theater Forum, or the forum at Intervocative (home of DVD Profiler). At these sites, and many others, you will see large communities of people who are against bootlegging, and will gladly support the studios both in the theater and on the DVD racks.

I, for one, have never downloaded a movie from the internet. I pride myself with the time and effort I have put into my collection. Plus, i love going to the theater, nothing can quite replace that experience.