Video Business: Weekly E-News Summary
Trouble viewing this email? Click here.

News Market Data Tipsheet Reviews New Releases Blogs Events Resources Videogames

The top news and charts for week ending January 4, 2008 .

Top Stories

Warner backs Blu-ray exclusively
JAN. 4 | Warner Bros. Entertainment this year will begin releasing high-definition titles exclusively in Blu-ray Disc, dealing a severe blow to the HD DVD format. The studio hopes its decision will help end the format war, and boost the chances of high-definition quickly becoming a vital business.
Full Story

Retailers expand merchandising of Blu-ray, HD DVD
JAN. 4 | Key retailers are moving into the new year with more merchandising space devoted to the fledgling high-definition DVD formats.
Full Story

Netflix partners with LG to stream to TV
JAN. 3 | Netflix is teaming with LG Electronics on a set-top box that streams movies and other programming from the Internet to the TV.
Full Story

MORE



Market Data

"RUSH HOUR 3" leads Top DVD Renters Chart
Full Top DVD Renters Chart

"THE SIMPSONS MOVIE" leads Top DVD Sellers Chart
Full Top DVD Sellers Chart

"THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM" leads Top HD DVD Sellers Chart
Full Top HD DVD Sellers Chart

"PIRATES: AT WORLD'S END" leads Top Blu-ray Sellers Chart
Top Blu-ray Sellers Chart

MORE


 
Fast-paced comedy Rush Hour 3 kept renters amused this week. 



Commentary

SWEETING: OPINION: The Content/Technology Agenda for 2008
Paul Sweeting is editor of Content Agenda JAN. 4 | The International Consumer Electronics Show has become a major meeting place for the technology and entertainment industries, sometimes to cooperate, sometimes to argue, sometimes just to look each other over.
Read Column

MORE



Retail News

OPINION: The Content/Technology Agenda for 2008
Paul Sweeting is editor of Content Agenda JAN. 4 | The International Consumer Electronics Show has become a major meeting place for the technology and entertainment industries, sometimes to cooperate, sometimes to argue, sometimes just to look each other over.
Full Story

Retailers expand merchandising of Blu-ray, HD DVD
JAN. 4 | Key retailers are moving into the new year with more merchandising space devoted to the fledgling high-definition DVD formats.
Full Story

NBC to provide kiosk downloads at CES
JAN. 4 | Entertainment kiosk company Mediaport has inked its first video download deal with a major studio, NBC Universal, and the pact will kick off at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Jan. 7-10.
Full Story

CBS DVD to increase its release slate
JAN. 4 | After multiple reorganizations, CBS DVD anticipates expanding its release slate dramatically in 2008.
Full Story

Distributor Artie Bach dies
JAN. 4 | Video pioneer Artie Bach died Dec. 10 at Sloan-Kettering hospital in New York City from complications following cancer surgery. He was 78.
Full Story

Awards hopefuls set DVD bows
JAN. 4 | FROM VARIETY: As the kudos season kicks into high gear, studios are staking out prime DVD berths for their hopefuls.
Full Story

Movie Gallery reports $80 million loss in six weeks
JAN. 4 | Movie Gallery is reporting continuing losses during its bankruptcy period, according to filings with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and Securities and Exchange Commission.For the first six weeks since the bankruptcy was filed, Oct. 16-Dec. 2, the company reported a net loss of $80.7 million. Of that total, $53.5 million came from Hollywood Video stores and $27.2 million from stores under the Movie Gallery brand.
Full Story

Netflix partners with LG to stream to TV
JAN. 3 | Netflix is teaming with LG Electronics on a set-top box that streams movies and other programming from the Internet to the TV.
Full Story

Virgin reports successful Q4
JAN. 2 | Despite the announced closure of three locations in 2007, Virgin Megastores has declared the year a success, citing growth in several product categories including DVD.
Full Story

Koch Lorber offers Q1 discount
DEC. 31 | Koch Lorber Films will kick off the New Year with a buy three, get one free promotion. The savings work out to as much as 67% because Koch Lorber will allow the free title to be the most expensive, said Dan Gurlitz, general manager of Koch Lorber.
Full Story

MORE


Studio/Supplier News

OPINION: The Content/Technology Agenda for 2008
Paul Sweeting is editor of Content Agenda JAN. 4 | The International Consumer Electronics Show has become a major meeting place for the technology and entertainment industries, sometimes to cooperate, sometimes to argue, sometimes just to look each other over.
Full Story

Warner backs Blu-ray exclusively
JAN. 4 | Warner Bros. Entertainment this year will begin releasing high-definition titles exclusively in Blu-ray Disc, dealing a severe blow to the HD DVD format. The studio hopes its decision will help end the format war, and boost the chances of high-definition quickly becoming a vital business.
Full Story

NBC to provide kiosk downloads at CES
JAN. 4 | Entertainment kiosk company Mediaport has inked its first video download deal with a major studio, NBC Universal, and the pact will kick off at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Jan. 7-10.
Full Story

CBS DVD to increase its release slate
JAN. 4 | After multiple reorganizations, CBS DVD anticipates expanding its release slate dramatically in 2008.
Full Story

Distributor Artie Bach dies
JAN. 4 | Video pioneer Artie Bach died Dec. 10 at Sloan-Kettering hospital in New York City from complications following cancer surgery. He was 78.
Full Story

Awards hopefuls set DVD bows
JAN. 4 | FROM VARIETY: As the kudos season kicks into high gear, studios are staking out prime DVD berths for their hopefuls.
Full Story

Cookson to head Sony Pictures Technology
JAN. 2 | Christopher J. Cookson has been named president at Sony Pictures Technologies. In this newly created position, Cookson will oversee the development and execution of Sony’s technology policy and processes.
Full Story

Six major studios top $1 billion
JAN. 2 | FROM VARIETY: For the first time since 1998, Paramount ended the year No. 1 in market share, a victory made possible because it owns DreamWorks and distributes its movies.
Full Story

New Year’s box office hits the bubbly
JAN. 2 | FROM VARIETY: The five-day New Year’s frame continued the late-year boost to the film biz, with Disney sequel National Treasure: Book of Secrets leading and 20th Century Fox’s surprise hit Alvin and the Chipmunks overtaking Warner Bros.’ I Am Legend for the No. 2 spot.
Full Story

Koch Lorber offers Q1 discount
DEC. 31 | Koch Lorber Films will kick off the New Year with a buy three, get one free promotion. The savings work out to as much as 67% because Koch Lorber will allow the free title to be the most expensive, said Dan Gurlitz, general manager of Koch Lorber.
Full Story

MORE


High-Def News

Warner backs Blu-ray exclusively
JAN. 4 | Warner Bros. Entertainment this year will begin releasing high-definition titles exclusively in Blu-ray Disc, dealing a severe blow to the HD DVD format. The studio hopes its decision will help end the format war, and boost the chances of high-definition quickly becoming a vital business.
Full Story

Retailers expand merchandising of Blu-ray, HD DVD
JAN. 4 | Key retailers are moving into the new year with more merchandising space devoted to the fledgling high-definition DVD formats.
Full Story

CBS DVD to increase its release slate
JAN. 4 | After multiple reorganizations, CBS DVD anticipates expanding its release slate dramatically in 2008.
Full Story

Pioneer plans pricey new players
JAN. 4 | Pioneer captures less than 5% of current Blu-ray hardware market share, but the manufacturer is committed to playing in its limited, high-end niche.
Full Story

MORE



VOD News

OPINION: The Content/Technology Agenda for 2008
Paul Sweeting is editor of Content Agenda JAN. 4 | The International Consumer Electronics Show has become a major meeting place for the technology and entertainment industries, sometimes to cooperate, sometimes to argue, sometimes just to look each other over.
Full Story

NBC to provide kiosk downloads at CES
JAN. 4 | Entertainment kiosk company Mediaport has inked its first video download deal with a major studio, NBC Universal, and the pact will kick off at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Jan. 7-10.
Full Story

DVR penetration to double in five years
JAN. 3 | A new JupiterResearch report forecasts steady growth for digital video recorders in U.S. TV households over the next five years, which will create a challenge for advertisers, even though DVRs themselves face competition from video-on-demand and online video streaming.
Full Story

Netflix partners with LG to stream to TV
JAN. 3 | Netflix is teaming with LG Electronics on a set-top box that streams movies and other programming from the Internet to the TV.
Full Story

CinemaNow, Macrovision offer ‘Connected Platform’
JAN. 3 | Movie download service CinemaNow and digital solutions firm Macrovision announced a deal to allow users to download CinemaNow titles onto consumer electronics devices and share them over a home network, using Macrovision’s  Connected Platform technology.
Full Story

MORE


Technology News

OPINION: The Content/Technology Agenda for 2008
Paul Sweeting is editor of Content Agenda JAN. 4 | The International Consumer Electronics Show has become a major meeting place for the technology and entertainment industries, sometimes to cooperate, sometimes to argue, sometimes just to look each other over.
Full Story

Warner backs Blu-ray exclusively
JAN. 4 | Warner Bros. Entertainment this year will begin releasing high-definition titles exclusively in Blu-ray Disc, dealing a severe blow to the HD DVD format. The studio hopes its decision will help end the format war, and boost the chances of high-definition quickly becoming a vital business.
Full Story

NBC to provide kiosk downloads at CES
JAN. 4 | Entertainment kiosk company Mediaport has inked its first video download deal with a major studio, NBC Universal, and the pact will kick off at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Jan. 7-10.
Full Story

CBS DVD to increase its release slate
JAN. 4 | After multiple reorganizations, CBS DVD anticipates expanding its release slate dramatically in 2008.
Full Story

Pioneer plans pricey new players
JAN. 4 | Pioneer captures less than 5% of current Blu-ray hardware market share, but the manufacturer is committed to playing in its limited, high-end niche.
Full Story

Awards hopefuls set DVD bows
JAN. 4 | FROM VARIETY: As the kudos season kicks into high gear, studios are staking out prime DVD berths for their hopefuls.
Full Story

DVR penetration to double in five years
JAN. 3 | A new JupiterResearch report forecasts steady growth for digital video recorders in U.S. TV households over the next five years, which will create a challenge for advertisers, even though DVRs themselves face competition from video-on-demand and online video streaming.
Full Story

CinemaNow, Macrovision offer ‘Connected Platform’
JAN. 3 | Movie download service CinemaNow and digital solutions firm Macrovision announced a deal to allow users to download CinemaNow titles onto consumer electronics devices and share them over a home network, using Macrovision’s  Connected Platform technology.
Full Story

Virgin reports successful Q4
JAN. 2 | Despite the announced closure of three locations in 2007, Virgin Megastores has declared the year a success, citing growth in several product categories including DVD.
Full Story

Koch Lorber offers Q1 discount
DEC. 31 | Koch Lorber Films will kick off the New Year with a buy three, get one free promotion. The savings work out to as much as 67% because Koch Lorber will allow the free title to be the most expensive, said Dan Gurlitz, general manager of Koch Lorber.
Full Story

MORE



News Market Data Tipsheet Reviews New Releases Blogs Events Resources Videogames



This message was sent to #EmailAddr#.

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 2008 Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Advertisements