Warner Bros: Goodbye Charlie Sheen-hello Facebook

I’ve never watched a movie on my computer.  Not once.  I never saw a reason to do so when I could be watching it on my big screen Sony, and never got around to hooking up my computer to the TV, although I just might soon, because according to The Hollywood Reporter times they are a’ changin’ for the movie viewing public.  Here’s the story:

Warner Bros. is turning to Facebook, where it hopes to find an electronic audience interested in digitally renting The Dark Knight.

Warners said Monday that it is the first Hollywood studio to offer movies directly on Facebook. Friends of Christopher Nolan’s Knight, the second of his two Batman movies, can rent the film by going to its official Facebook page and clicking a “rent” icon to apply Facebook Credits. The cost per rental is 30 Facebook Credits, or $3.

Viewers will have 48 hours from the purchase to watch the movie, which can be viewed full screen and also paused and resumed within that period. While watching the movie, consumers will also have full Facebook functionality, including the ability to post comments, interact with friends and update their status.

“Facebook has become a daily destination for hundreds of millions of people,” said Thomas Gewecke, president of Warner Bros. Digital Distribution. “Making our films available through Facebook is a natural extension of our digital distribution efforts. It gives consumers a simple, convenient way to access and enjoy our films through the world’s largest social network.”

While the Knight offering is described as a test, Warners also said that additional titles for both rental and purchase will be rolled out over the coming months.