If Warner Bros. had their own Facebook profile, their most recent status update would inevitably read, "Warner Bros. went from being 'single' to being 'in a relationship' with Facebook."
Why, you ask? That's because the two have just inked a deal to allow viewers to simultaneously watch Watchmen on Blu-ray Disc Live (BD-Live) while exchanging comments with their Facebook friends.
Even though BD-Live viewers could already connect with each other mid-screening, the new Facebook deal adds a greater community element - i.e. Facebook's 200 million users - to the video watching experience. According to the Hollywood Reporter, there was no money exchanged in the deal, which will let users sync their BD-Live buddy lists with their friend networks on Facebook.
Only the Blu-ray "Watchmen Director's Cut" will have the additional layer of social connectivity, and it will be made available in late July via iTunes and Amazon on Demand for $35.99.
And even though we'd love to think that studios are starting to get hip to the joys of social media, the reality is something a little less flowery. Studio execs and Blu-ray proponents are hoping that the additional goodies, coupled with the Facebook integration, will make the premium DVD alluring to audiences even at the much higher price point.