The top news and charts for week ending June 29, 2007 .
DVD-CCA to allow CSS in DVD burning Wal-Mart wants more supplier help implementing RFID Warner’s Total HD delayed until 2008 |
"GHOST RIDER" leads Top DVD Renters Chart "BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA" leads Top DVD Sellers Chart "PLANET EARTH: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION" leads Top HD DVD Sellers Chart "PLANET EARTH: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION" leads Top Blu-ray Sellers Chart |
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SWEETING: Chasing the downside |
Retailers return to EMA convention
JUNE 29 | Target, Costco and Best Buy are coming back to this year’s Home Media Expo after sitting out last year’s convention, the Entertainment Merchants Assn. said.
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GiftFlix wraps up its DVD business
JUNE 29 | GiftFlix, a company started last year to market DVD gift cards, is winding down after finding shipping costs prohibitively expensive.
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Amazon Unbox gets Prom Queen download
JUNE 29 | FROM VARIETY: Michael Eisner's Prom Queen is going to Amazon. The Web series has been repurposed as a full-length feature and will be offered for download exclusively on Unbox, Amazon.com's digital download service, beginning today.
Full Story
Netflix lowers price for one plan
JUNE 28 | Netflix cut the price on its plan for unlimited rentals with two DVDs out at a time by $1 to $13.99. The company didn’t lower the price of any other plans, but continues to test pricing, spokesman Steve Swasey said.
Full Story
Wal-Mart wants more supplier help implementing RFID
JUNE 27 | LOS ANGELES—Since launching its first radio frequency identification tests in 2003, Wal-Mart remains determined to integrate the inventory tracking technology throughout its entire 6,500 store and club network. The retailer's Myron Burke presented the opening keynote for the 2nd annual Entertainment Supply Chain Academy to woo supplier and retailer attendees into complying with Wal-Mart’s vision.
Full Story
Blockbuster, Netflix settle patent infringement dispute
JUNE 27 | Blockbuster reported in a regulatory filing that it has settled its pending patent litigation with Netflix. Terms of the settlement are confidential, but the companies have agreed to have all claims dismissed, according to the filing. UPDATE: Blockbuster will close 282 stores this year.
Full Story
Blockbuster adds bigger Blu-ray section online
JUNE 27 | Blockbuster has added a Blu-ray Disc area to Blockbuster.com. The site contains a similar area for HD DVD, but it is not positioned as prominently.
Full Story
Redbox kiosks push into new McDonald's markets
JUNE 26 | By August, Redbox will expand its DVD rental kiosks into new McDonald’s markets including Boise, Ind.; Des Moines, Iowa; Indianapolis; Kansas City, Mo.; Louisville, Ky.; Nashville, Tenn.; Portland-Eugene, Ore.; and Las Vegas.
Full Story
Blockbuster cuts kids rental price for summer
JUNE 26 | Blockbuster is reducing the price of rentals in its kids section to $1.99 for the summer.The special rate is good now through Labor Day.
Full Story
Blockbuster CEO Antioco donates $1 million
JUNE 25 | Blockbuster CEO John Antioco made a $1 million donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America
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EMA to honor Borgnine at Home Media Expo
JUNE 25 | Oscar winner and TV icon Ernest Borgnine will be presented the Sustained Creative Achievement Award from the Entertainment Merchant’s Assn. at the awards show July 17 during the Home Media Expo in Las Vegas.
Full Story
Disney puts focus on original movies
JUNE 29 | Pixar/Disney Animation heads John Lasseter and Ed Catmull will shift the focus at DVD premiere division DisneyToon Studios away from sequels to original films, following a restructuring last week that puts the division under their control.
Full Story
Retailers return to EMA convention
JUNE 29 | Target, Costco and Best Buy are coming back to this year’s Home Media Expo after sitting out last year’s convention, the Entertainment Merchants Assn. said.
Full Story
News Corp., NBC hire Amazon exec to head online video venture
JUNE 29 | FROM VARIETY: Three months after announcing a plan to form an online video venture, NBC and News Corp. have hired a CEO, tapping Amazon.com exec Jason Kilar to run the operation.
Full Story
BD+ technology ready for studios, manufacturers
JUNE 28 | The added layer of Blu-ray Disc copyright protection known as BD+ is ready for studio and manufacturer licensing.
Full Story
Image reports Q4, full-year losses
JUNE 28 | Retailer and product supplier bankruptcies ate into Image Entertainment’s fourth-quarter and full-year fiscal 2007 earnings, but the indie supplier remains upbeat about its business.
Full Story
MySpace launches beta version of MySpaceTV
JUNE 28 | MySpace has launched a beta version of MySpaceTV, a video site that will compete directly against YouTube but with a focus on adding original and exclusive videos from content providers.
Full Story
Team Baby names Lee Corso spokesman
JUNE 28 | Houston-based children’s sports production company Team Baby Entertainment signed ESPN’s popular College GameDay show star Lee Corso as spokesman for the company’s NCAA-themed DVDs.
Full Story
Starbucks to promote Arctic Tale theatrical, DVD
JUNE 28 | FROM VARIETY: Starbucks is giving movie promotions another try and using lessons it learned from its involvement with Akeelah and the Bee to push Arctic Tale, a Paramount Classics and National Geographic Films documentary that rolls out theatrically July 25 and heads into a wide release Aug. 17.
Full Story
Blu-ray backers offer summer promo
JUNE 27 | The major studios and consumer electronics companies backing Blu-ray have partnered on a summer-long promotion giving five free Blu-ray Discs to consumers who purchase select Blu-ray players.
Full Story
Image to stay public after sale
JUNE 27 | Image Entertainment has amended its merger agreement with BTP Acquisition Company, which is intended to keep the indie DVD supplier a publicly traded company on NASDAQ.
Full Story
Warner’s Total HD delayed until 2008
JUNE 27 | LOS ANGELES—Warner Home Video looks to be pushing the launch of its dual-format high-definition disc, Total HD, into 2008, from the second half of this year, as was originally planned.
Full Story
New TV shows to air on DVD
JULY 2 | TV series on DVD is still a popular segment of the market, and the hottest new shows from the past season are making their way to store shelves soon.
Full Story
Saddle Club rides to release
JULY 2 | Allumination FilmWorks recently picked up DVD rights to the popular Australian tween girls series The Saddle Club, and although episodes of the show have been released in the past by Warner Home Video and GoodTimes, Allumination sees growth in the property.
Full Story
PBS series join forces to explain The Mormons
JULY 2 | Just as former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign draws a spotlight to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, PBS Home Video is releasing The Mormons, a documentary co-produced by two PBS series, Frontline and American Experience.
Full Story
The British (DVDs) are coming
JULY 2 | The upcoming July 4 holiday marks the annual celebration of the U.S. declaration of independence from British rule, but many U.S. DVD viewers are welcoming the latest invasion from the Brits. Comedies from the U.K. have always been strong, but British dramas are seeing a comeback, says Megan Branigan, VP of video marketing for BBC Worldwide Americas.
Full Story
Princess Diana still center stage
JULY 2 | On Aug. 31, 1997, the news that Diana, Princess of Wales, had died in a car accident in Paris rocked the world. Her 1981 fairy tale wedding to Prince Charles endeared her to millions. But her tragic passing at the age of 36 made her a legend. And as the 10th anniversary of her death nears, DVD programs about the princess—like tell-all books—are in no short supply.
Full Story
Studios read more into DVD movies
JULY 2 | Studios are turning into regular book worms, with several prepping DVD premiere movies based on best-selling novels.
Full Story
Vongo to be promoted on Toshiba notebooks
JUNE 26 | Starz Entertainment has partnered with Toshiba to promote online video subscription service Vongo on select models of new Toshiba notebook computers.
Full Story
PorchLight launches DVD distribution division
JUNE 25 | Kids TV specialist PorchLight Entertainment has launched a domestic DVD distribution division. Gary Jones, formerly with New Concorde and Trimark, has been tapped as senior VP of the PorchLight Home Entertainment unit and is charged with overseeing the new division’s acquisitions and sales.
Full Story
Genius signs up for Christian segment distribution
JUNE 25 | Genius Products has signed a home entertainment output deal with EMI Music North America’s Christian Music Group. Under the pact’s terms, EMI CMG will exclusively distribute Genius’ product to its network of 2,300 Christian retail stores.
Full Story
Pixar pair win Disney battle of DVD sequels
JUNE 25 | FROM VARIETY: With last week's reorganization of Disney animation, John Lasseter and Ed Catmull gained control over all Mouse House feature toons and won their pitched battle against DVD sequels.
Full Story
ICRS draws Christian, mainstream suppliers
JUNE 25 | With DVD becoming a bigger part of the Christian retail market, both Christian and mainstream DVD suppliers will make their presence known in a variety of ways at Christian Booksellers Assn.’s International Christian Retail Show July 8-12, held at Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center.
Full Story
Spreading the gospel of Christian titles
JUNE 25 | A wave of deals between mainstream suppliers and Christian producers has rolled through the DVD market. Studios have been making deals to get their programming into the Christian retail channel, and conversely, Christian producers are putting titles into the mass market with the help of mainstream distributors.
Full Story
Now showing at church
JUNE 25 | Churches are making use of better technology and the popularity of movies by holding church “movie nights,” screening DVDs at events that they promote to their congregations. Producers and retailers could benefit by getting involved with the promotion and in turn, sell more DVDs.
Full Story
Warner’s Total HD delayed until 2008
JUNE 27 | LOS ANGELES—Warner Home Video looks to be pushing the launch of its dual-format high-definition disc, Total HD, into 2008, from the second half of this year, as was originally planned.
Full Story
Blockbuster adds bigger Blu-ray section online
JUNE 27 | Blockbuster has added a Blu-ray Disc area to Blockbuster.com. The site contains a similar area for HD DVD, but it is not positioned as prominently.
Full Story
Apple keeps iPhone on closed circuit
JUNE 29 | FROM VARIETY: Gadget hounds who manage to get their hands on Apple's new iPhone will find it easy to load it with video obtained from Apple's iTunes Store. But anyone interested in viewing content from other sources will have to be inventive.
Full Story
Amazon Unbox gets Prom Queen download
JUNE 29 | FROM VARIETY: Michael Eisner's Prom Queen is going to Amazon. The Web series has been repurposed as a full-length feature and will be offered for download exclusively on Unbox, Amazon.com's digital download service, beginning today.
Full Story
News Corp., NBC hire Amazon exec to head online video venture
JUNE 29 | FROM VARIETY: Three months after announcing a plan to form an online video venture, NBC and News Corp. have hired a CEO, tapping Amazon.com exec Jason Kilar to run the operation.
Full Story
MySpace launches beta version of MySpaceTV
JUNE 28 | MySpace has launched a beta version of MySpaceTV, a video site that will compete directly against YouTube but with a focus on adding original and exclusive videos from content providers.
Full Story
Video downloads still niche business
JUNE 27 | NPD found in its “Digital Video in America” report that seven out of 10 consumers had digital video files saved on their home computer in 2006. However, few of those files came from movie download services. In the first quarter of 2007, just 2% of consumers paid for a movie or TV show download.
Full Story
Vongo to be promoted on Toshiba notebooks
JUNE 26 | Starz Entertainment has partnered with Toshiba to promote online video subscription service Vongo on select models of new Toshiba notebook computers.
Full Story
Apple keeps iPhone on closed circuit
JUNE 29 | FROM VARIETY: Gadget hounds who manage to get their hands on Apple's new iPhone will find it easy to load it with video obtained from Apple's iTunes Store. But anyone interested in viewing content from other sources will have to be inventive.
Full Story
BD+ technology ready for studios, manufacturers
JUNE 28 | The added layer of Blu-ray Disc copyright protection known as BD+ is ready for studio and manufacturer licensing.
Full Story
Toshiba to keep HD DVD players at $299
JUNE 28 | Toshiba is sticking with the $299 price-point for its bottom-line HD DVD player after seeing a sales jolt when it introduced the lower price in May as part of a limited-time offer.
Full Story
DVD-CCA to allow CSS in DVD burning
JUNE 28 | After a series of false starts, DVD burning has cleared its last technical hurdle, smoothing the way for movie download services and DVD kiosk companies to offer on-demand disc burning using CSS copy-protection technology.
Full Story
Blu-ray backers offer summer promo
JUNE 27 | The major studios and consumer electronics companies backing Blu-ray have partnered on a summer-long promotion giving five free Blu-ray Discs to consumers who purchase select Blu-ray players.
Full Story
Warner’s Total HD delayed until 2008
JUNE 27 | LOS ANGELES—Warner Home Video looks to be pushing the launch of its dual-format high-definition disc, Total HD, into 2008, from the second half of this year, as was originally planned.
Full Story
Blockbuster adds bigger Blu-ray section online
JUNE 27 | Blockbuster has added a Blu-ray Disc area to Blockbuster.com. The site contains a similar area for HD DVD, but it is not positioned as prominently.
Full Story
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