Fewer viewing options.

(From Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Byline: Nestor U. Torre

TIME was when, every Wednesday, some 10 new movies would open their run on the film theater circuit in Metro Manila, so movie buffs could choose to see productions that were specifically suited to their taste.

These days, however, the trend toward "saturation screening" has resulted in more than a hundred theaters showing just one film, while other productions have to make do with only a few theaters apiece.

Thus, when we scan the movie marquees, we are left with precious few real viewing choices, aside from the blockbuster of the week. As a result, we lose heart and interest, and often end up not watching any film at all.

The saturation screening gambit makes sense from a commercial point of view, because it maximizes the earning potential both of the favored blockbuster and all those theaters that screen it. In only one week, the film makes tens of millions of pesos, while its competitors have to content themselves with loose change.

But might doesn't make right, especially when the blockbuster turns out to be a tired rehash of past hits, as is often the case these days. Other movies may be better, but few people get to see them, because they have been left out in the cold in terms of screening venues.