Would you pay $30 to watch a movie at home?

Predicting whether or not new technology services will succeed has proven to be a bit of a crapshoot. But I’m going to go out on a limb with this one and say it will never take off.

I’m referring to a recent story I read on TechCrunch describing how movie studios have struck a deal to create a premium video-on-demand service on DIRECTV. The service will bring movie titles to your home just 60 days after their release in the movie theaters. But here’s, the catch. The cost to watch the movie will be $30.

Now believe me, I’ve done the math. For my wife and I to go out to a movie costs us roughly $10/ticket plus another $10 for popcorn and drinks plus another $15-20 for a babysitter. That all easily adds up to more than $30.

But that’s exactly why my wife and I don’t go out to the movie theaters that often. So charging us nearly the same price to watch it at home does nothing for us. And besides, at least when I go to the movie theater I can indulge in that buttery popcorn goodness.

And I just can’t get it out of my mind that if we are willing to wait another month or two, we can skip the movie theater altogether and purchase the DVD for $15 or rent it at Redbox for $1.

Am I alone on this? Would anyone pay $30 just for the privilege of watching a movie at home 60 days after its theatrical release?