Because, in this world there are no videos, only home computers. It's already technically possible for those with fast Internet connections. Internet movies for the masses must still wait for a variety of technical, economic and regulatory problems to be sorted out. But the prospect of having movies a mouse click away has already shaken up an entertainment industry that was late in recognizing the impact of music over the Internet. It has also moved society another step closer to a lifestyle bound up in the Internet and the home computer.
Signs of change are everywhere, from the financial markets to studio boardrooms, even the courtroom.
Elsewhere, in Cannes, moviemakers were joined at this year's film festival by Web company executives on the prowl for product. Sander believes demand for Internet movies initially will be fueled by college students, whose schools have broadband Internet connections that can download a feature-length movie in about 20 minutes and show it on a Microsoft media player. The next step will be high-speed hookups in the average American home. Predictably, those least bullish on Internet movies are video store owners. The pipes just aren't there to handle it.