Video Business: Weekly E-News Summary
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News Market Data Tipsheet Reviews New Releases Blogs Events Resources Videogames

The top news and charts for week ending December 15, 2008.

Top Stories

Blockbuster rental rates key to earnings
DEC. 11 | Business segment more important for near-term finances, CFO says
Click for the full story

Dark Knight sets Blu-ray record
DEC. 11 | Format sales on pace to hit 1 million copies in first week
Click for the full story

Video Hall of Fame honors McGee, Sanders, DEG
DEC. 9 | Annual event benefits Variety—The Children's Charity
Click for the full story

Click for more news



2008 Video Hall of Fame ceremony
Video Business2008 Video Hall of Fame inductees Ron Sanders (2nd. from l.), Henry McGee (3rd. from l.) and Amy Jo Smith (2nd. from r.) stand with their introducers (l. to r.) actors Malcolm McDowell, Lorraine Bracco and Variety Group president Neil Stiles. The gala was held on Dec. 8 at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. Photo by Lionel Cassini.
Click for more photos from the ceremony and cocktail party.
Market Data

WANTED leads Top DVD Renters Chart
Full Top DVD Renters Chart

NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN leads Top DVD Sellers Chart
Full Top DVD Sellers Chart

WANTED leads Top Blu-ray Sellers Chart
Full Top Blu-ray Sellers Chart

Click for more market data


 
Wanted was in demand in its debut week as the No. 1 renter.


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Blogs

SWEETING: Standing out
Paul Sweeting is editor of Content Agenda

Online retailers are going to need a new set of tools to try to differentiate themselves.
Click for full column

BLU STATE: Playstation 3 Finally Gets its Virtual World
Dissecting the battle to bring consumers to Blu-ray.

The PS3 finally got its own virtual world, dubbed Home, which went live Thursday.
Click for the full blog

DISC DISH: Soul Men DVD, Blu-ray
Notable new releases coming to the DVD front lines, with Samantha Clark.

Weinstein will release Soul Men, starring the late Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes, on Feb. 3, just 13 weeks after it debuted in theaters.
Click for the full blog

DVDIALOG: Dee Snider: Still Twisted
Chatting up the creative element, with Laurence Lerman.

The lead singer of heavy metal band Twisted Sister talks about the new Twisted Sister twin-disc CD and DVD release, Twister Sister: Live at The Astoria.
Click for the full blog

Click for more blogs




Retail News

Tweeter trustee trying to reopen stores
DEC. 12 | FROM TWICE: Needed for clearance sale
Click for the full story

Blockbuster rental rates key to earnings
DEC. 11 |Business segment more important for near-term finances, CFO says
Click for the full story

Movie Gallery, Radio Shack team on Blu-ray promo
DEC. 11 | Stores give free coupons with LCD, player purchases
Click for the full story

Variety lights up its own sign
DEC. 11 | FROM VARIETY: Building also is new home of Video Business
Click for the full story

Internet holiday spending tapers off
DEC. 10 | U.S. online spending remains even with a year ago
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Redbox says Wanted is a top rental despite delay
DEC. 10 | Kiosk operator got Universal title late because of lawsuit
Click for the full story

Santa Clause, Bad Santa are Kringle favorites
DEC. 10 | Blockbuster polls viewers' 'naughty' and 'nice' picks
Click for the full story

Netflix Blu-ray adoption quicker than expected
DEC. 9 | Company boosts marketing spend, citing 'remarkably strong' quarter
Click for the full story

Blu-ray player prices rise after Black Friday lows
DEC. 8 | Retailers think sales will slow, not stop
Click for the full story

Internet holiday spending pulls even with last year
DEC. 8 | Online DVD, CD sales down 24%
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Wal-Mart increases Nintendo Wii inventory
DEC. 8 | 'Tens of thousands' of consoles made available through Web site
Click for the full story

Netflix goes live with TiVo streaming
DEC. 8 | Company also to replace higher-level tech support staff
Click for the full story

Hastings authorizes $5 million stock repurchase
DEC. 8 | Program aimed at increasing stockholder value
Click for the full story

Courts appoint Tweeter trustee
DEC. 8 | FROM TWICE: Also approves Circuit City workers' pay
Click for the full story

Click for more retail news


Studio/Supplier News



Lionsgate to solely distribute Thomas & Friends franchise
DEC. 12 | Company plans to promote catalog with new releases
Click for the full story

Dark Knight sets Blu-ray record
DEC. 11 | Format sales on pace to hit 1 million copies in first week
Click for the full story

Variety lights up its own sign
DEC. 11 | FROM VARIETY: Building also is new home of Video Business
Click for the full story

Few Globe nominees on DVD
DEC. 11 | Frost, Button leading contenders in awards
Click for the full story

Barnholtz opens production, distribution company
DEC. 10 | Will offer Blu-ray free with three DVD copies
Click for the full story

Image enjoying 'best year' in supplier's history
DEC. 9 | Touts strong future in first retailer conference
Click for the full story

Video Hall of Fame honors McGee, Sanders, DEG
DEC. 9 | Annual event benefits Variety—The Children's Charity
Click for the full story

Home entertainment president Burrows exits Paramount
DEC. 8 | Part of Viacom's cost-cutting efforts
Click for the full story

Sony releases second wave of Martini Movies
DEC. 8 | DVD line targeted to classic film fans
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Click for more studio/supplier news


Image retail conference
Ventriloquist Terry Fator performs at Image’s first retail conference, held at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Dec. 9. The supplier reported a record fiscal year.


High-Def News

Oppo readies universal Blu-ray player
DEC. 12 | FROM TWICE: Available to limited purchasers Dec. 20
Click for the full story

Dark Knight sets Blu-ray record
DEC. 11 | Format sales on pace to hit 1 million copies in first week
Click for the full story

Movie Gallery, Radio Shack team on Blu-ray promo
DEC. 11 | Stores give free coupons with LCD, player purchases
Click for the full story

Blu-ray player sales triple Black Friday week
DEC. 9 | Sony, Samsung drop average price to about $200
Click for the full story

Netflix Blu-ray adoption quicker than expected
DEC. 9 | Company boosts marketing spend, citing 'remarkably strong' quarter
Click for the full story

Blu-ray player prices rise after Black Friday lows
DEC. 8 | Retailers think sales will slow, not stop
Click for the full story

Click for more high-def news


Videogames News

Videogame revenue up 10%
DEC. 11 | Industry still strong despite tough economy
Click for the full story

Economy takes its toll on EA
DEC. 10 | FROM VARIETY: Profits 'significantly below' expected figures
Click for the full story

Wal-Mart increases Nintendo Wii inventory
DEC. 8 | 'Tens of thousands' of consoles made available through Web site
Click for the full story

Click for more videogame news


VOD News

Netflix goes live with TiVo streaming
DEC. 8 | Company also to replace higher-level tech support staff
Click for the full story

Click for more VOD news


Technology News

Digital copy a hit with consumers, says NPD survey
DEC. 10 | 79% prefer embedded file on discs
Click for the full story

Click for more technology news



News Market Data Tipsheet Reviews New Releases Blogs Events Resources Videogames



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