The top news and charts for week ending December 22, 2008.

	SWEETING: RIAA to drop mass lawsuits: A change of heart, or a tactical retreat? Paul Sweeting is editor of Content Agenda I think we can now put away for good the old canard about the RIAA funding its operations from settlements extracted from lawsuits against alleged illegal downloaders. Click for full column
	BLU STATE: HD TV Owners Want Blu-ray Presents, But Will They Get Them? Dissecting the battle to bring consumers to Blu-ray, with Susanne Ault. New survey says HD TV owners would much prefer a Blu-ray player to a standard DVD model. Click for the full blog
	DISC DISH: Will Faith-based Have Blu Passion? Notable new releases coming to the DVD front lines, with Susanne Ault. Fox is set to release the Blu-ray version of The Passion of the Christ on Feb. 17. Click for the full blog
	DVDIALOG: Wes is Craven a Last House Special Edition Chatting up the creative element, with Laurence Lerman. Director Wes Craven’s talks about the special edition of his 1972 thriller Last House on the Left, coming from MGM/Fox on Feb. 24. Click for the full blog

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Sharp launches LCD/Blu-ray promo
DEC. 19 | FROM TWICE: Free BD-HP21U with Aquos HD LCD TV purchase
Click for the full story

IFC releases Che to theaters, VOD, DVD nearly simultaneously
DEC. 19 | Blockbuster has exclusive 60-day window for biopic
Click for the full story

High School Musical 3 streets Feb. 17
DEC. 18 | Third installment of franchise available on DVD, Blu-ray
Click for the full story

Tweeter stores to remain shut
DEC. 18 | FROM TWICE: Retailer's assets to be liquidated in private warehouse sale
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Circuit City to break leases after scuttling auction
DEC. 18 | FROM TWICE: Retailer to close 155 underperforming stores
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ESCA launches new videogame conference
DEC. 18 | GameSupply to address supply chain efficiency
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Criterion creates online cinematheque
DEC. 18 | New site offers streaming video, frequent buyer program
Click for the full story

Mamma Mia! first-day North America sales total $30 mil.
DEC. 18 | Abba-inspired musical moves 2.25 million units on Dec. 16
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Dark Knight first-week sales top 13.5 million worldwide
DEC. 17 | Title passes 1 million U.S. Blu-ray units, as expected
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Online holiday spending drops 2%
DEC. 17 | Consumers buy moderately post-Thanksgiving
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Circle K's Canadian sister chain gets Movie Spot kiosks
DEC. 17 | Signifi installs five Movie Spot machines at Ontario's Mac's
Click for the full story

Warner draws Viz deal
DEC. 17 | Studio will distribute new, catalog anime titles starting in April
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Consumers watch VOD more, visit theaters less
DEC. 16 | Report cites economy, HDTVs for keeping more people at home
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Netflix, actors team up for Feeding America
DEC. 16 | Affleck, Alba provide artwork for collector's gift boxes
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Best Buy 3Q earnings fall 77%
DEC. 16 | Company profit beats estimates, likely gained market share
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Vudu offers Web applications, programming
DEC. 15 | Company to open service to third-party developers
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Redbox installs kiosks at 7-Eleven locations
DEC. 15 | Convenience store expansion includes three other chains
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E-commerce holiday holiday spending slows
DEC. 15 | Consumer-electronics demand drops from previous week
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Earth Stood Still tops at box office
DEC. 15 | VARIETY BOX-OFFICE REPORT: Specialty films get boost from Golden Globes
Click for the full story

Image signs output deal with BKN Home Entertainment
DEC. 15 | Titles include Legend of the Dragon, Kong
Click for the full story

Click for more retail/distribution news

Sharp launches LCD/Blu-ray promo
DEC. 19 | FROM TWICE: Free BD-HP21U with Aquos HD LCD TV purchase
Click for the full story

IFC releases Che to theaters, VOD, DVD nearly simultaneously
DEC. 19 | Blockbuster has exclusive 60-day window for biopic
Click for the full story

High School Musical 3 streets Feb. 17
DEC. 18 | Third installment of franchise available on DVD, Blu-ray
Click for the full story

Criterion creates online cinematheque
DEC. 18 | New site offers streaming video, frequent buyer program
Click for the full story

Mamma Mia! first-day North America sales total $30 mil.
DEC. 18 | Abba-inspired musical moves 2.25 million units on Dec. 16
Click for the full story

Dark Knight first-week sales top 13.5 million worldwide
DEC. 17 | Title passes 1 million U.S. Blu-ray units, as expected
Click for the full story

Navarre shuts down BCI Elipse
DEC. 17 | Corporation looks to reduce costs due to recession
Click for the full story

Warner draws Viz deal
DEC. 17 | Studio will distribute new, catalog anime titles starting in April
Click for the full story

Consumers watch VOD more, visit theaters less
DEC. 16 | Report cites economy, HDTVs for keeping more people at home
Click for the full story

Best Buy 3Q earnings fall 77%
DEC. 16 | Company profit beats estimates, likely gained market share
Click for the full story

Trailer Park adds Geerlings to new group
DEC. 15 | Company merges two groups to form digital design unit
Click for the full story

Redbox installs kiosks at 7-Eleven locations
DEC. 15 | Convenience store expansion includes three other chains
Click for the full story

Earth Stood Still tops at box office
DEC. 15 | VARIETY BOX-OFFICE REPORT: Specialty films get boost from Golden Globes
Click for the full story

Image signs output deal with BKN Home Entertainment
DEC. 15 | Titles include Legend of the Dragon, Kong
Click for the full story

Click for more studio/supplier news

Sharp launches LCD/Blu-ray promo
DEC. 19 | FROM TWICE: Free BD-HP21U with Aquos HD LCD TV purchase
Click for the full story

High School Musical 3 streets Feb. 17
DEC. 18 | Third installment of franchise available on DVD, Blu-ray
Click for the full story

Criterion creates online cinematheque
DEC. 18 | New site offers streaming video, frequent buyer program
Click for the full story

Mamma Mia! first-day North America sales total $30 mil.
DEC. 18 | Abba-inspired musical moves 2.25 million units on Dec. 16
Click for the full story

Dark Knight first-week sales top 13.5 million worldwide
DEC. 17 | Title passes 1 million U.S. Blu-ray units, as expected
Click for the full story

Circle K's Canadian sister chain gets Movie Spot kiosks
DEC. 17 | Signifi installs five Movie Spot machines at Ontario's Mac's
Click for the full story

Consumers watch VOD more, visit theaters less
DEC. 16 | Report cites economy, HDTVs for keeping more people at home
Click for the full story

Trailer Park adds Geerlings to new group
DEC. 15 | Company merges two groups to form digital design unit
Click for the full story

Click for more high-def news