The top news and charts for week ending December 17, 2007.
Third Pirates sells 8 million units in first week NPD: DVD sales soften as product matures First Look plans environmental initiatives |
Blade Runner turns 25 Blade Runner stars Joanna Cassidy (l.) and Sean Young (3rd from r.) and producer Charles de Lauzirika (r.) celebrate with Warner’s Jeffrey Baker (2nd from l.) and Ron Sanders (2nd from r.), with his son, Pate. See Click for more industry photos. |
"SUPERBAD" leads Top DVD Renters Chart "PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END" leads Top DVD Sellers Chart "TRANSFORMERS" leads Top HD DVD Sellers Chart "PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END" leads Top Blu-ray Sellers Chart |
|
||
 |
SWEETING: Piracy billing |
|
BETWEEN THE LINES: Imagine all the people … that a Web site now replaces |
|
 |
RED STATE, BLUE STATE: Amazon HD DVD Blu-ray switcheroo |
 |
DISC DISH: The Darjeeling Limited DVD |
 |
DVDIALOG: Along for the ride with Mercedes McNab |
|
THE DOWN LOW: The Internet TV conundrum |
NPD: DVD sales soften as product matures
DEC. 14 | Consumers’ hunger for new DVDs looks to be on the wane, according to NPD Group research that offers some context for the softness of fourth-quarter sales this year.
Click for full story
Amway opens online store Fanista
DEC. 14 | The parent company of multi-level marketer Amway has opened an online store to sell DVD, music and videogames with the same network techniques it uses to move soap, vitamins and beauty products.
Click for full story
Paramount streams Jackass online
DEC. 13 | Paramount Pictures Digital Entertainment will release the newest installment in the stomach-churning Jackass franchise straight to the Web for streaming on Dec. 19. Blockbuster will have an exclusive one-week window to stream the title at blockbuster.jackassworld.com and has exclusive rights to DVD rental and to offer digital rentals online.
Click for full story
Third Pirates sells 8 million units in first week
DEC. 12 | Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End has sold about 8 million copies in North America during its first week on sale, according to multiple industry sources, helping to raise hopes for a strong December at retail. The third installment of the Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment franchise, which streeted Dec. 4, appears to be running neck-and-neck with Transformers as the top fourth-quarter title in 2007.
Click for full story
Wattles wants Hollywood back
DEC. 12 | After selling Hollywood Entertainment to Movie Gallery in 2005, Mark Wattles may be involved in a potential plan to buy the entire company. Hollywood founder and former CEO Wattles “is a potential investor in connection with a possible competing reorganization plan,” according to court papers filed Dec. 11 in conjunction with the Movie Gallery bankruptcy.
Click for full story
Hot Topic builds boutique for Foster's
DEC. 10 | Cartoon Network series Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends has scored its own boutique inside Hot Topic, featuring Warner Home Video-distributed DVDs, clothing, room decorations and other themed products.
Click for full story
First Look plans environmental initiatives
DEC. 14 | First Look Studios is teaming with Shorewood Packaging on an expansive environmental initiative that includes replacing plastic Amaray-style DVD cases with recycled paperboard packaging and planting trees to offset the carbon emissions associated with the manufacture and distribution of DVDs.
Click for full story
DVD premieres in production despite writers strike
DEC. 14 | The ongoing Writers Guild of America strike is not preventing a strong supply of DVD premiere movies from hitting retail through 2008. Some projects have been delayed due to not yet ready scripts from boycotting screenwriters, including New Line Home Entertainment’s second Danielle Steel title and a sequel to 2004 theatrical Cellular.
Click for full story
Few Golden Globes nominees on DVD so far
DEC. 13 | Online exclusive: Consumers—or retailers—ready to pounce on DVDs that are among today’s announced Golden Globes top film nominees will have to make do with a limited selection. Many nominees, including Globes overall leader Atonement with seven nods, have not yet been slated for DVD release.
Click for full story
Paramount streams Jackass online
DEC. 13 | Paramount Pictures Digital Entertainment will release the newest installment in the stomach-churning Jackass franchise straight to the Web for streaming on Dec. 19. Blockbuster will have an exclusive one-week window to stream the title at blockbuster.jackassworld.com and has exclusive rights to DVD rental and to offer digital rentals online.
Click for full story
Friedman heads operations at Summit
DEC. 12 | Industry veteran Sandy Friedman has been named executive VP of operations, home entertainment, at Summit Entertainment.
Click for full story
Third Pirates sells 8 million units in first week
DEC. 12 | Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End has sold about 8 million copies in North America during its first week on sale, according to multiple industry sources, helping to raise hopes for a strong December at retail. The third installment of the Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment franchise, which streeted Dec. 4, appears to be running neck-and-neck with Transformers as the top fourth-quarter title in 2007.
Click for full story
Sony set to reach earnings goal
DEC. 12 | FROM VARIETY: Sony is on target to meet its goal of 5% profit margins by March, Sony CEO-chairman Howard Stringer told reporters Tuesday in Tokyo. Looking ahead, Stringer said a major theme for next year and beyond will be the expansion of online networking for the PS3 console to other electronics, beginning with the PlayStation Portable.
Click for full story
Warner hires Sony exec as president of Digital Distribution
DEC. 12 | Thomas Gewecke has been named president of Warner Bros. Digital Distribution, the video-on-demand and electronic sell-through unit of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group. Most recently Sony BMG Music Entertainment’s executive VP of global digital business, Gewecke will now drive new media strategies for Warner’s home entertainment assets.
Click for full story
NBC Universal adds content to Fanfare
DEC. 11 | Online exclusive: NBC Universal will make available TV shows from its various networks, including NBC, USA Network and Bravo, as well as vintage shows from its library on Fanfare, a new Web-based platform owned by SanDisk.
Click for full story
Porchlight acquires kids lines
DEC. 10 | Online exclusive: Porchlight Home Entertainment has acquired three children’s properties for release in 2008. The first property to launch on DVD will be Little Playdates, an award-winning series for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. It will arrive on DVD from Porchlight in February.
Click for full story
Compass charts not-so-golden bow
DEC. 10 | VARIETY’S BOX OFFICE REPORT: New Line’s pricey fantasy epic The Golden Compass endured a $26.1 million opening at the domestic box office from 3,528 theaters, a soft debut considering the tentpole’s production budget of at least $180 million. Compass, the only new wide release of the frame, easily came in at No. 1, although New Line had expected the pic to open at between $30 million and $40 million.
Click for full story
Image, BTP merger delayed to Jan. 14
DEC. 10 | Online exclusive: Image Entertainment has further extended the deadline of its merger to Jan. 14, following a renewed commitment by BTP Acquisition Company that it does intend to purchase the indie DVD supplier.
Click for full story
Sony, Samsung dominate Blu-ray set-top sales
DEC. 14 | Sony and Samsung overwhelmingly dominate Blu-ray Disc set-top player sales, but new Panasonic and LG players are striving for a bigger piece of the BD hardware pie. For the week ended Nov. 24, Sony captured 60% of all BD unit sales; and Samsung was its only significant competitor with 32%, according to DisplaySearch. Panasonic was far behind, corralling a 5% share.
Click for full story
Vudu conjures high-def Ultimatum
DEC. 11 | Online exclusive: Universal Studios Home Entertainment’s The Bourne Ultimatum is the first title to be offered as a high-definition download through Vudu, following the set-top box maker’s announcement last month that it would offer high-def downloads from Paramount Pictures, Universal and Lionsgate.
Click for full story
LG ships second-generation super Blu player
DEC. 11 | FROM TWICE: ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J.—LG Electronics is now shipping its second-generation “Super Blu” combination HD DVD/Blu-ray Disc player.
Click for full story
Next wave of high-def adopters to affect format war
DEC. 11 | The demographics of the next wave of high-def adopters, who are considered Click for more price-conscious than the earlier adopters, might work to sway the format war in HD DVD’s favor, according to research firm The Diffusion Group.
Click for full story
Happy holidays for videogame biz
DEC. 14 | FROM VARIETY: It's shaping up to be a huge holiday season for the videogame biz, as boffo sales in November for Activision's Call of Duty 4 and Guitar Hero 3, Nintendo's Super Mario Galaxy and Wii console and Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed drove the industry to a new record.
Click for full story
Activision to replace faulty Guitar Hero III
DEC. 10 | Online exclusive: Activision is planning to replace faulty discs of its popular title, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, after some Nintendo Wii owners reported as early as Oct. 29 that the videogame did not play in stereo.
Click for full story
Samsung offers $10 credit for CinemaNow
DEC. 14 | Samsung ran an ad in the Sunday New York Times promoting a $10 credit for CinemaNow downloads with the purchase of a Samsung P2 Portable Media player, which costs less than $200.
Click for full story
Hammer Films distributes first film on Web
DEC. 14 | FROM VARIETY: LONDON -- The recently revived Hammer Films will produce its first feature in three decades and distribute it via social networking site MySpace's Web TV arm.
Click for full story
Set-tops get into high-def downloads
DEC. 13 | Online exclusive: While set-up box movie service Vudu streamed its first high-definition title this week, The Bourne Ultimatum, a new rival says it is joining the game as early as January. XStream HD will make available high-definition and standard-definition titles using satellite bandwidth and a dedicated set-top box, company officials said.
Click for full story
Paramount streams Jackass online
DEC. 13 | Paramount Pictures Digital Entertainment will release the newest installment in the stomach-churning Jackass franchise straight to the Web for streaming on Dec. 19. Blockbuster will have an exclusive one-week window to stream the title at blockbuster.jackassworld.com and has exclusive rights to DVD rental and to offer digital rentals online.
Click for full story
Vudu conjures high-def Ultimatum
DEC. 11 | Online exclusive: Universal Studios Home Entertainment’s The Bourne Ultimatum is the first title to be offered as a high-definition download through Vudu, following the set-top box maker’s announcement last month that it would offer high-def downloads from Paramount Pictures, Universal and Lionsgate.
Click for full story
NBC Universal adds content to Fanfare
DEC. 11 | Online exclusive: NBC Universal will make available TV shows from its various networks, including NBC, USA Network and Bravo, as well as vintage shows from its library on Fanfare, a new Web-based platform owned by SanDisk.
Click for full story
Sony, Samsung dominate Blu-ray set-top sales
DEC. 14 | Sony and Samsung overwhelmingly dominate Blu-ray Disc set-top player sales, but new Panasonic and LG players are striving for a bigger piece of the BD hardware pie. For the week ended Nov. 24, Sony captured 60% of all BD unit sales; and Samsung was its only significant competitor with 32%, according to DisplaySearch. Panasonic was far behind, corralling a 5% share.
Click for full story
LG ships second-generation super Blu player
DEC. 11 | FROM TWICE: ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J.—LG Electronics is now shipping its second-generation “Super Blu” combination HD DVD/Blu-ray Disc player.
Click for full story
| News | Market Data | Tipsheet Reviews | New Releases | Blogs | Events | Resources | Videogames |
This message was sent to c.cheng@reedbusiness.com.
SUBSCRIBE
To sign up for a free subscription to the weekly printed Video Business magazine -- where you can find additional news stories, the industry's most complete VHS and DVD sales and rental charts, product reviews, special reports and market data, please click here.
For answers to advertising or editorial questions, please click here.
To sign up for Video Business E-News weekly summaries and bulletins, please click here
To unsubscribe, please click here.
To change your profile or to register for other newsletters, please click here.
If you have questions or need further assistance, please contact our Online Support Team at: MediaSupport@reedbusiness.com.
or:
Reed Business Information
2000 Clearwater Dr.
Oak Brook, IL 60523
Fax: (630) 288-8394
To request the text version of the Video Business Weekly Summary, please contact our Online Support Team at: MediaSupport@reedbusiness.com.
To read the Video Business Privacy Policy, please click here.
The 26-year-old Video Business print magazine also is a daily online publication (www.videobusiness.com) covering the physical, digital and electronic distribution of video; retailing and the original production of VHS, DVD, interactive and broadband video programming; and videogames.
Video Business® is a registered trademark of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc. used under license. Trademark owner:
Reed Elsevier Properties Inc.
1105 North Market Street
Ninth Floor
Wilmington, DE 19801
© Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
