The top news and charts for week ending August 24, 2007 .
Research firm still predicts Blu-ray high-def winner Paramount supports HD DVD exclusively Retailers adjust to cancellation of Blu Blades |
"WILD HOGS" leads Top DVD Renters Chart "WILD HOGS" leads Top DVD Sellers Chart "300" leads Top HD DVD Sellers Chart "300" leads Top Blu-ray Sellers Chart |
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SWEETING: OPINION: Choosing sides |
Trans World's loss grows in second quarter
AUG. 23 | Growing DVD and electronics sales could not stop Trans World Entertainment from sliding further into red ink during its second quarter.
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Movie Gallery on notice from NASDAQ
AUG. 21 | After market close today, Movie Gallery revealed it has received two letters from NASDAQ, each dated Aug. 17, indicating it is out of compliance with requirements for continued listing on the stock exchange.
Full Story
ACI, Cinevision jointly acquire 17 telenovelas
AUG. 21 | American Cinema International and Cinevision International have teamed up to jointly acquire and distribute Latin-themed product for the U.S. marketplace. The companies will distribute through Image Entertainment and Navarre/BCI at least 17 telenovelas on DVD. All telenovelas were acquired from Mexico’s TV Azteca.
Full Story
First Look veterans form Rivercoast Films Distribution
AUG. 21 | A group of First Look Home Entertainment veterans have joined to form Rivercoast Films Distribution, a new video company that will concentrate on distributing independent films that might not otherwise make their way to DVD.
Full Story
Profit up tenfold for Hastings' Q2
AUG. 20 | Movies and videogame strength powered Hastings Entertainment to significant profit gains in its second quarter. For the three months ended July 31, Hastings recorded $1.9 million in net income, nearly 10 times its take for the same period last year.
Full Story
Retailers adjust to cancellation of Blu Blades
AUG. 24 | Retailers scrambled to change plans last week after Paramount Home Entertainment said it will exclusively release titles in HD DVD, cancelling the Blu-ray Disc version of Aug. 28 release Blades of Glory, for which the studio had accepted orders.
Full Story
Nickerson leaving Warner high-def post
AUG. 24 | Warner Home Video’s high-definition czar Steve Nickerson will exit the company at the end of September to pursue other opportunities, said Mark Horak, the studio’s executive VP/general manager of worldwide operations and new packaged media. He will be replaced by Dorinda Marticorena, currently VP of kids and sports marketing.
Full Story
Warner licenses Secret for VOD, PPV
AUG. 23 | Still a best-selling book and DVD at retail, The Secret next will be offered on video-on-demand and pay-per-view by Warner Bros. Digital Distribution starting Aug. 31.
Full Story
Final Seinfeld bows with Complete Series set
AUG. 23 | Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is about to release in its entirety the crown jewel of its TV library—or the TV DVD industry’s “900-pound gorilla,” as VP of marketing Marc Rashba refers to the final season of Seinfeld. The last episodes of the hit show will be released Nov. 6 in a final season set and in a set with the first eight seasons and a souvenir book.
Full Story
Michael Bay speaks out against HD DVD-only choice
AUG. 22 | FROM VARIETY: The decision by Paramount Home Entertainment and DreamWorks Animation to exclusively back HD DVD may have garnered the studios financial incentives valued at a reported $150 million, but it seems to have irked at least one high-profile filmmaker in the process.
Full Story
Disney Blu-ray mall tour aims for mass audiences
AUG. 21 | Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is using a soft sell to convince families that Blu-ray Disc should be the new entertainment choice for Mom, Dad and the kids, including a national mall tour that kicked off at the Westfield Topanga center in Canoga Park, Calif., last week.
Full Story
ACI, Cinevision jointly acquire 17 telenovelas
AUG. 21 | American Cinema International and Cinevision International have teamed up to jointly acquire and distribute Latin-themed product for the U.S. marketplace. The companies will distribute through Image Entertainment and Navarre/BCI at least 17 telenovelas on DVD. All telenovelas were acquired from Mexico’s TV Azteca.
Full Story
First Look veterans form Rivercoast Films Distribution
AUG. 21 | A group of First Look Home Entertainment veterans have joined to form Rivercoast Films Distribution, a new video company that will concentrate on distributing independent films that might not otherwise make their way to DVD.
Full Story
Ratatouille served on DVD, Blu-ray Nov. 6
AUG. 21 | Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment will serve up the Disney/Pixar production Ratatouille (pictured) on DVD and Blu-ray Nov. 6, the same timeframe that the studio chose for Pixar blockbuster Cars last year. The studio also will bow its blockbuster TV series Lost on Blu-ray, as well as DVD, on Dec. 11.
Full Story
Fox, MGM ready Blu-ray payload
AUG. 20 | After a slow start in high-definition, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment and MGM Home Entertainment are now slating Blu-ray Disc titles with a vengeance, slotting 29 releases for the rest of the year, including summer blockbusters Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (pictured) and Live Free or Die Hard.
Full Story
Paramount supports HD DVD exclusively
AUG. 20 | In a surprise move sure to shake up the high-definition format battle, Paramount Home Entertainment said today that it will exclusively support HD DVD beginning with Aug. 28 release Blades of Glory. Paramount said that all movies from its labels will be released in high-definition on HD DVD only worldwide. Films from DreamWorks Animation, which hasn’t yet released any films on high-def, also will debut on HD DVD only.
Full Story
Nickerson leaving Warner high-def post
AUG. 24 | Warner Home Video’s high-definition czar Steve Nickerson will exit the company at the end of September to pursue other opportunities, said Mark Horak, the studio’s executive VP/general manager of worldwide operations and new packaged media. He will be replaced by Dorinda Marticorena, currently VP of kids and sports marketing.
Full Story
Research firm still predicts Blu-ray high-def winner
AUG. 22 | BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.—Research firm Understanding & Solutions reiterated its stance that Blu-ray Disc will prove victorious in the high-definition format war, despite Paramount Home Entertainment’s and DreamWorks Animation’s move to back rival HD DVD exclusively.
Full Story
Michael Bay speaks out against HD DVD-only choice
AUG. 22 | FROM VARIETY: The decision by Paramount Home Entertainment and DreamWorks Animation to exclusively back HD DVD may have garnered the studios financial incentives valued at a reported $150 million, but it seems to have irked at least one high-profile filmmaker in the process.
Full Story
Disney Blu-ray mall tour aims for mass audiences
AUG. 21 | Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is using a soft sell to convince families that Blu-ray Disc should be the new entertainment choice for Mom, Dad and the kids, including a national mall tour that kicked off at the Westfield Topanga center in Canoga Park, Calif., last week.
Full Story
Ratatouille served on DVD, Blu-ray Nov. 6
AUG. 21 | Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment will serve up the Disney/Pixar production Ratatouille (pictured) on DVD and Blu-ray Nov. 6, the same timeframe that the studio chose for Pixar blockbuster Cars last year. The studio also will bow its blockbuster TV series Lost on Blu-ray, as well as DVD, on Dec. 11.
Full Story
Fox, MGM ready Blu-ray payload
AUG. 20 | After a slow start in high-definition, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment and MGM Home Entertainment are now slating Blu-ray Disc titles with a vengeance, slotting 29 releases for the rest of the year, including summer blockbusters Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (pictured) and Live Free or Die Hard.
Full Story
Paramount supports HD DVD exclusively
AUG. 20 | In a surprise move sure to shake up the high-definition format battle, Paramount Home Entertainment said today that it will exclusively support HD DVD beginning with Aug. 28 release Blades of Glory. Paramount said that all movies from its labels will be released in high-definition on HD DVD only worldwide. Films from DreamWorks Animation, which hasn’t yet released any films on high-def, also will debut on HD DVD only.
Full Story
PlayStation 3 gets TV recorder in Europe
AUG. 24 | For the European market, Sony Corp. will pump up PlayStation 3 with a device that will let people record and store live TV, according to an Associated Press report.
Full Story
PS3 price cuts helps, but not enough
AUG. 24 | FROM VARIETY: Sony's PlayStation 3 (pictured) drew a big boost from its price drop in July, but it's still lagging in last place. The next-gen console, which saw its high price cut by $100 cut in response to broad consumer resistance, saw sales grow 63% from the previous month to 159,000 units in the U.S. and Canada, according to the NPD Group. That put it just slightly behind Microsoft's Xbox 360, whose sales declined from 198,000 to 170,000.
Full Story
Profit up tenfold for Hastings' Q2
AUG. 20 | Movies and videogame strength powered Hastings Entertainment to significant profit gains in its second quarter. For the three months ended July 31, Hastings recorded $1.9 million in net income, nearly 10 times its take for the same period last year.
Full Story
PlayStation 3 gets TV recorder in Europe
AUG. 24 | For the European market, Sony Corp. will pump up PlayStation 3 with a device that will let people record and store live TV, according to an Associated Press report.
Full Story
Warner licenses Secret for VOD, PPV
AUG. 23 | Still a best-selling book and DVD at retail, The Secret next will be offered on video-on-demand and pay-per-view by Warner Bros. Digital Distribution starting Aug. 31.
Full Story
Low-price Chinese HD DVD players still absent
AUG. 24 | With much fanfare, the HD DVD Promotional Group announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in January that Chinese manufacturers would begin selling low-price HD DVD players in the U.S. this year. But as of mid-August, no manufacturer or retailer has announced a firm date for the players.
Full Story
Nickerson leaving Warner high-def post
AUG. 24 | Warner Home Video’s high-definition czar Steve Nickerson will exit the company at the end of September to pursue other opportunities, said Mark Horak, the studio’s executive VP/general manager of worldwide operations and new packaged media. He will be replaced by Dorinda Marticorena, currently VP of kids and sports marketing.
Full Story
PlayStation 3 gets TV recorder in Europe
AUG. 24 | For the European market, Sony Corp. will pump up PlayStation 3 with a device that will let people record and store live TV, according to an Associated Press report.
Full Story
Final Seinfeld bows with Complete Series set
AUG. 23 | Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is about to release in its entirety the crown jewel of its TV library—or the TV DVD industry’s “900-pound gorilla,” as VP of marketing Marc Rashba refers to the final season of Seinfeld. The last episodes of the hit show will be released Nov. 6 in a final season set and in a set with the first eight seasons and a souvenir book.
Full Story
Research firm still predicts Blu-ray high-def winner
AUG. 22 | BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.—Research firm Understanding & Solutions reiterated its stance that Blu-ray Disc will prove victorious in the high-definition format war, despite Paramount Home Entertainment’s and DreamWorks Animation’s move to back rival HD DVD exclusively.
Full Story
Michael Bay speaks out against HD DVD-only choice
AUG. 22 | FROM VARIETY: The decision by Paramount Home Entertainment and DreamWorks Animation to exclusively back HD DVD may have garnered the studios financial incentives valued at a reported $150 million, but it seems to have irked at least one high-profile filmmaker in the process.
Full Story
Disney Blu-ray mall tour aims for mass audiences
AUG. 21 | Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is using a soft sell to convince families that Blu-ray Disc should be the new entertainment choice for Mom, Dad and the kids, including a national mall tour that kicked off at the Westfield Topanga center in Canoga Park, Calif., last week.
Full Story
Ratatouille served on DVD, Blu-ray Nov. 6
AUG. 21 | Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment will serve up the Disney/Pixar production Ratatouille (pictured) on DVD and Blu-ray Nov. 6, the same timeframe that the studio chose for Pixar blockbuster Cars last year. The studio also will bow its blockbuster TV series Lost on Blu-ray, as well as DVD, on Dec. 11.
Full Story
Fox, MGM ready Blu-ray payload
AUG. 20 | After a slow start in high-definition, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment and MGM Home Entertainment are now slating Blu-ray Disc titles with a vengeance, slotting 29 releases for the rest of the year, including summer blockbusters Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (pictured) and Live Free or Die Hard.
Full Story
Profit up tenfold for Hastings' Q2
AUG. 20 | Movies and videogame strength powered Hastings Entertainment to significant profit gains in its second quarter. For the three months ended July 31, Hastings recorded $1.9 million in net income, nearly 10 times its take for the same period last year.
Full Story
Paramount supports HD DVD exclusively
AUG. 20 | In a surprise move sure to shake up the high-definition format battle, Paramount Home Entertainment said today that it will exclusively support HD DVD beginning with Aug. 28 release Blades of Glory. Paramount said that all movies from its labels will be released in high-definition on HD DVD only worldwide. Films from DreamWorks Animation, which hasn’t yet released any films on high-def, also will debut on HD DVD only.
Full Story
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