The top news and charts for week ending October 29, 2007.
Netflix beats analyst expectations in Q3 Possible WGA strike looms over Q4 SoCal fires keep some retailers busy, others empty |
David Arquette’s promo ‘Trip’ David Arquette (c.) celebrated the DVD release of The Tripper with Fox’s J.J. Caruth (l.) and Chris Reichert at Hollywood’s Virgin Megastore on Oct. 23. Arquette wrote and directed the horror film. See more industry photos. |
"TRANSFORMERS" leads Top DVD Renters Chart "TRANSFORMERS" leads Top DVD Sellers Chart "TRANSFORMERS" leads Top HD DVD Sellers Chart "FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER" leads Top Blu-ray Sellers Chart |
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SWEETING: Movie downloads 101 |
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BETWEEN THE LINES: Behind the numbers |
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RED STATE, BLUE STATE: Subliminal Samsung |
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DISC DISH: 101 Dalmations Platinum DVD |
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DVDIALOG: Werner Herzog’s jungle fever |
SoCal fires keep some retailers busy, others empty
OCT. 26 | SAN DIEGO—Don Alford is still looking forward to opening his first video rental store in the community of Ramona, outside of San Diego, even if he has to wait a little longer. Entertainment Merchants Assn. VP Sean Bersell said most of the affected video retailers were likely in San Diego County, which has lost more than 300,000 acres to wildfire.
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Possible WGA strike looms over Q4
OCT. 26 | As if there isn’t already enough to think about during this critical fourth quarter, the possibility of a Hollywood screenwriters strike is of real concern to studios and retailers.
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Warner system upgrades slows shipments
OCT. 26 | Upgrades to Warner Home Video’s automated distribution system have created some delays in title deliveries to retail. Retail and distribution sources said some delays might be the result of Warner not initially accounting for certain rental packs in the new system.
Click for full story
Movielink, Blockbuster launch Sopranos cross-promotion
OCT. 24 | To promote the final season DVD release of New Jersey's most infamous family, Movielink is offering free downloads of select episodes from the first and last season of HBO's hit mobster series The Sopranos and offering a $10 discount toward the sale of any season on DVD at Blockbuster stores.
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Income up 313% at Amazon in Q3
OCT. 23 | Amazon.com today reported one of its best quarters ever, with a 313% rise in net income in the period that ended on Sept. 30. The online retailer attributed its success in part to international media sales, such as DVDs, which grew 36% to $2.09 billion in the third quarter.
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CNN Peril DVD manufactured on demand at Amazon
OCT. 23 | CNN is making the documentary Planet in Peril available on Amazon.com as a DVD title that’s manufactured on demand by Amazon unit CreateSpace (formerly known as CustomFlix).
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European DVD sales rise
OCT. 23 | FROM VARIETY: LONDON — European DVD sales will grow 8% by volume and 0.6% by value in 2007, according to the latest estimates from pan-industry body DEG Europe.
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Landlords file motions against Movie Gallery
OCT. 23 | Shopping center landlord groups have filed motions against Movie Gallery objecting to the provisions the chain was granted to get out of some of its leases.
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Samsung lowers Blu-ray player price to $499
OCT. 22 | It looks like Samsung has chopped $50 off the list price of its third-generation Blu-ray player to $499. Samsung’s BD-P1400, originally expected to be tagged at $549, is now being sold at such retailers as Best Buy and Crutchfield.com at a price that matches the cheapest available Blu-ray set-top to this point, Sony’s $499 BD-S300.
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Transformers fastest-selling DVD, HD DVD this year
OCT. 22 | Box-office blockbuster Transformers sold 4.5 million DVD copies its first day and 8.3 million copies in its first week, making it the top day-one and first-week seller this year, according to Paramount Home Entertainment. Paramount also said the title sold more than 100,000 HD DVDs in its first day on shelves, on the way to selling 190,000 units on HD DVD in its first week.
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Netflix beats analyst expectations in Q3
OCT. 22 | Netflix's third-quarter performance bested expectations by Wall Street analysts, as the online movie subscription rental service posted profits of $15.7 million, or 23¢ a share, in the three-month period that ended Sept. 30. Analysts were expecting earnings of 15¢ a share, according to the average estimate reported by Thomson Financial.
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Rentrak hopes to crack TV ratings
OCT. 22 | FROM VARIETY: Portland, Ore.-based Rentrak, a media measurement firm that made its name reporting box office results and DVD sales, is making the latest bid to collect and analyze TV data on a national basis.
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Sales, rentals still slow in Q3
OCT. 22 | Consumer spending on home entertainment sales and rentals continued below 2006 levels during the third quarter, but pulled to 3.5% below the year-earlier period, closing a gap that was 4.8% at the mid-year point. Optimistic studio execs say that’s close enough to pull even with 2006 by year’s end, given the bonanza of box-office hits slated in the fourth quarter. Rentals trail 2006 by 2.8%, at $5.7 billion through the third quarter.
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Possible WGA strike looms over Q4
OCT. 26 | As if there isn’t already enough to think about during this critical fourth quarter, the possibility of a Hollywood screenwriters strike is of real concern to studios and retailers.
Click for full story
Warner system upgrades slows shipments
OCT. 26 | Upgrades to Warner Home Video’s automated distribution system have created some delays in title deliveries to retail. Retail and distribution sources said some delays might be the result of Warner not initially accounting for certain rental packs in the new system.
Click for full story
Packaging mix-up plagues Eyes Wide Shut
OCT. 26 | The packaging for Warner Home Video’s Oct. 23 two-disc special edition re-issue of Stanley Kubrick’s 1999 film Eyes Wide Shut boasts that both the R-rated and unrated international versions of the film are contained in the two-disc set, but only the unrated version is actually offered. The incongruity has prompted a good deal of discussion and posts on cinema-themed online message boards by fans of the late director and his final film.
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PS3 a drag on Sony, but income rises
OCT. 25 | Online exclusive: Despite tallying significant slowdown in its gaming revenue, Sony still posted mostly healthy overall earnings in its recently completed fiscal 2007 second quarter.
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Starz opens Vongo to handheld playback
OCT. 25 | Starz Entertainment today announced a new application that allows monthly subscribers to its Vongo service to watch movies through a seven manufactured handheld media players.
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Global anti-piracy treaty in works
OCT. 24 | FROM VARIETY: U.S. trade representative Susan C. Schwab announced Tuesday that the Bush administration and some key trading partners are launching a collaborative effort against piracy.
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CNN Peril DVD manufactured on demand at Amazon
OCT. 23 | CNN is making the documentary Planet in Peril available on Amazon.com as a DVD title that’s manufactured on demand by Amazon unit CreateSpace (formerly known as CustomFlix).
Click for full story
Fox partners with AAMCO for Die Hard
OCT. 23 | 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is hoping to woo men with a Live Free or Die Hard campaign featuring AAMCO Transmission, a first-time promotional partner for the DVD unit.
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Transformers fastest-selling DVD, HD DVD this year
OCT. 22 | Box-office blockbuster Transformers sold 4.5 million DVD copies its first day and 8.3 million copies in its first week, making it the top day-one and first-week seller this year, according to Paramount Home Entertainment. Paramount also said the title sold more than 100,000 HD DVDs in its first day on shelves, on the way to selling 190,000 units on HD DVD in its first week.
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Image shareholders overwhelmingly approve BTP acquisition
OCT. 22 | Online exclusive: CENTURY CITY, CALIF.—Image Entertainment shareholders quietly approved the indie supplier’s merger with BTP Acquisition Group on Monday, marking a stark contrast from last year’s nail biter meeting when Lionsgate hoped to wrest control of Image.
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Samsung postpones high-end Blu-ray player launch
OCT. 24 | Samsung has indefinitely benched its high-end third-generation player, the BD-P2400, in order to better focus on its other new 2007 models, according to a company representative. Also, Samsung has confirmed a mid-to-late December launch of its dual-format player, the BD-UP5000 (pictured).
Click for full story
Samsung lowers Blu-ray player price to $499
OCT. 22 | It looks like Samsung has chopped $50 off the list price of its third-generation Blu-ray player to $499. Samsung’s BD-P1400, originally expected to be tagged at $549, is now being sold at such retailers as Best Buy and Crutchfield.com at a price that matches the cheapest available Blu-ray set-top to this point, Sony’s $499 BD-S300.
Click for full story
Transformers fastest-selling DVD, HD DVD this year
OCT. 22 | Box-office blockbuster Transformers sold 4.5 million DVD copies its first day and 8.3 million copies in its first week, making it the top day-one and first-week seller this year, according to Paramount Home Entertainment. Paramount also said the title sold more than 100,000 HD DVDs in its first day on shelves, on the way to selling 190,000 units on HD DVD in its first week.
Click for full story
PS3 a drag on Sony, but income rises
OCT. 25 | Online exclusive: Despite tallying significant slowdown in its gaming revenue, Sony still posted mostly healthy overall earnings in its recently completed fiscal 2007 second quarter.
Click for full story
E for All logs fewer test-drivers
OCT. 22 | FROM VARIETY: There weren't many lines and the hall wasn't close to full of exhibitors, but the organizers of the first E for All videogame confab, essentially a public version of the old E3, say they're pleased with the results and are giving it another go next year.
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Starz opens Vongo to handheld playback
OCT. 25 | Starz Entertainment today announced a new application that allows monthly subscribers to its Vongo service to watch movies through a seven manufactured handheld media players.
Click for full story
Movielink, Blockbuster launch Sopranos cross-promotion
OCT. 24 | To promote the final season DVD release of New Jersey's most infamous family, Movielink is offering free downloads of select episodes from the first and last season of HBO's hit mobster series The Sopranos and offering a $10 discount toward the sale of any season on DVD at Blockbuster stores.
Click for full story
Income up 313% at Amazon in Q3
OCT. 23 | Amazon.com today reported one of its best quarters ever, with a 313% rise in net income in the period that ended on Sept. 30. The online retailer attributed its success in part to international media sales, such as DVDs, which grew 36% to $2.09 billion in the third quarter.
Click for full story
Xbox Live to launch Looney Tunes downloads
OCT. 23 | FROM VARIETY: Xbox Live, Microsoft's online distribution service for its videogame console, is adding 50 Looney Tunes episodes starring Bugs, Daffy and the gang today marking the first time they are available for digital download.
Click for full story
Warner system upgrades slows shipments
OCT. 26 | Upgrades to Warner Home Video’s automated distribution system have created some delays in title deliveries to retail. Retail and distribution sources said some delays might be the result of Warner not initially accounting for certain rental packs in the new system.
Click for full story
Samsung postpones high-end Blu-ray player launch
OCT. 24 | Samsung has indefinitely benched its high-end third-generation player, the BD-P2400, in order to better focus on its other new 2007 models, according to a company representative. Also, Samsung has confirmed a mid-to-late December launch of its dual-format player, the BD-UP5000 (pictured).
Click for full story
Samsung lowers Blu-ray player price to $499
OCT. 22 | It looks like Samsung has chopped $50 off the list price of its third-generation Blu-ray player to $499. Samsung’s BD-P1400, originally expected to be tagged at $549, is now being sold at such retailers as Best Buy and Crutchfield.com at a price that matches the cheapest available Blu-ray set-top to this point, Sony’s $499 BD-S300.
Click for full story
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