'Jackass 2.5' to debut online, in challenge to film industry

Viacom (NYSE: VIA)'s Paramount unit will launch the next version of its popular Jackass film series online. On December 19, Jackass 2.5 will be offered free at the Blockbuster (NYSE: BBI) website only for streaming -- users will not be able to download the film. Starting a week later, the DVD-version will go on sale.

The project will be supported by advertising, and according to The Wall Street Journal, "Blockbuster paid a guarantee of around $2 million to Paramount for exclusive rights to Jackass 2.5."

The entire model represents a threat to the traditional movie revenue model. Theater owners, who are still powerful distributors for feature content, are likely to be upset. And what about the airline version of the movie, or the one that would run on HBO? Those may simply be unavailable.

But as the number of broadband homes rises and the number of people who grew up with a PC increases, the opportunity to launch video content outside of traditional channels will increase. Whether that will put studios at war with their traditional distribution outlets remains to be seen, but a series of battles is likely.

And you'd need a new Oscar category: "Best Film Released Online."

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.