The top news and charts for week ending April 17, 2009.

Retailers split Blu-ray/DVD combo sets for rental APRIL 17 | Two-for-one packs help save money, increase title depth Click for the full story Entertainment spending will increase in 2009 APRIL 15 | Report: Majority of consumers plan to spend more on DVD, other segments Click for the full story Best Buy plans online movie service APRIL 16 | Chain, CinemaNow in talks for downloads Click for the full story Click for more news

Notorious release party (From l. to r.) Notorious’ Dennis L.A. White, director George Tillman Jr., Naturi Naughton, Jamal Woolard, Vibe’s Edgar Hernandez, Fox’s Kavita Smith, producer Wayne Barrow and Fox’s Spencer Yee celebrate Fox’s DVD and Blu-ray release at New York’s Pink Elephant on April 15. Fox’s film about the life of rapper Notorious B.I.G. will street on April 21.

THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL leads Top DVD Renters Chart Full Top DVD Renters Chart BEDTIME STORIES leads Top DVD Sellers Chart Full Top DVD Sellers Chart BEDTIME STORIES leads Top Blu-ray Sellers Chart Full Top Blu-ray Sellers Chart Click for more market data	Renters moved The Day the Earth Stood Still to No. 1 in its debut week.
Download-to-Own Non-Theatrical Renters Limited Release Renters Game Sellers

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SWEETING: Pirates cuffed Paul Sweeting is editor of Content Agenda. Founders of The Pirate Bay convicted, but piracy will continue. Click for the full column

BETWEEN THE LINES: A reluctant fan Adding nuance to the day's home entertainment news, with editor-in-chief Marcy Magiera. Viewing Monsters vs. Aliens in 3D was a worthwhile experience. Click for the full blog

BLU STATE: Amazon.com teases LOTR Blu-ray Dissecting the battle to bring consumers to Blu-ray, with Susanne Ault. Amazon now accepting pre-orders for trilogy, but no word on street date. Click for the full blog

	DISC DISH: Taken DVD, Blu-ray Notable new releases coming to the DVD front lines, with Samantha Clark. Liam Neeson-starring Taken to street May 12. Click for the full blog
	DVDIALOG: Winter of Thora Birch, Part I Chatting up the creative element, with Cheryl Cheng. Actress Thora Birch talks about her upcoming film, Winter of Frozen Dreams. Click for the full blog
	THE DOWN LOW: YouTube going after Hulu The latest buzz on technology, downloads and viral videos, with Susanne Ault. YouTube to offer revamped TV/movie service. Click for the full blog

Click for more blogs

Retailers split Blu-ray/DVD combo sets for rental
APRIL 17 | Two-for-one packs help save money, increase title depth
Click for the full story

Best Buy plans online movie service
APRIL 16 | Chain, CinemaNow in talks for downloads
Click for the full story

Target launches videogame reservation program
APRIL 16 | Retailer also to reward customers with $5 gift card
Click for the full story

German iTunes adds feature films
APRIL 16 | FROM VARIETY: Store offers pics from studios and indies
Click for the full story

Entertainment spending will increase in 2009
APRIL 15 | Report: Majority of consumers plan to spend more on DVD, other segments
Click for the full story

Netflix to boost 2009 streaming spending by 33%
APRIL 15 | Company will spend $100 million on digital delivery this year, analyst says
Click for the full story

Netflix, DirecTV allow scheduling through mobiles
APRIL 15 | Subscribers can use iPhones, Blackberries
Click for the full story

Philips' sales of DVD players, TVs plunge
APRIL 14 | Parent company, consumer division take Q1 loss
Click for the full story

Systemax to buy Circuit City's brand for $6.5M
APRIL 14 | FROM TWICE: Company to pay retailer percentage of sales
Click for the full story

MOD executives Phillips, Gordon on leave
APRIL 13 | Kiosk company's countersuit against Lieberfarb dismissed
Click for the full story

Blockbuster debt downgraded by S&P
APRIL 13 | Ratings service cites 'liquidity issues'
Click for the full story

Click for more retail news

Blu-ray consumer base expands to females, family
APRIL 17 | Studios release high-def titles around Mother's Day
Click for the full story

YouTube logs film, TV deals
APRIL 17 | FROM VARIETY: Company pacts with major Hollywood studios
Click for the full story

Pirate Bay operators found guilty
APRIL 15 | FROM VARIETY: Swedish file-sharing site judged to be illegal
Click for the full story

Fox re-thinks separate rental, sale DVDs for libraries
APRIL 16 | Channel expects to get sell-through discs that include bonuses, digital copy
Click for the full story

Sony promotes two in emerging markets team
APRIL 16 | London-based executives to grow studio's global portfolio
Click for the full story

Image, Nyx agree on fourth merger amendment
APRIL 15 | Nyx has option to delay merger to May 4
Click for the full story

Cinema Guild signs ex-New Yorker label
APRIL 15 | Deal includes new Project X titles, 11 previously released
Click for the full story

Sarkozy to revive France's anti-piracy bill
APRIL 15 | FROM VARIETY: Law will target online copyright theft
Click for the full story

Osiris acquires about 400 titles from Westlake
APRIL 14 | Assets include Christmas films, The Pajama Game
Click for the full story

Warner bows Inkheart Blu-ray, DVD, digital copy combo
APRIL 14 | Studio targets release to families considering high-def
Click for the full story

Nyx fails to pay $1 million to Image
APRIL 14 | Companies to negotiate third merger amendment
Click for the full story

Virgil Films to distribute B-Side films
APRIL 13 | First release will be documentary Crawford
Click for the full story

Indies price Blu-ray close to standard DVD
APRIL 13 | E1 gives equal pricing to both formats
Click for the full story

Legend to release RiffTrax on DVD
APRIL 13 | Online series features MST3K commentators
Click for the full story

Shout! to distribute Hasbro's Transformers, G.I. Joe
APRIL 13 | Multi-year deal also includes My Little Pony
Click for the full story

Hannah tops Easter box office
APRIL 13 | VARIETY BOX-OFFICE REPORT: Disney pic wins weekend with $34 million
Click for the full story

Click for more studio/supplier news

Retailers split Blu-ray/DVD combo sets for rental
APRIL 17 | Two-for-one packs help save money, increase title depth
Click for the full story

Blu-ray player shipments to total 12 million in 2009
APRIL 17 | Futuresource believes falling prices will drive demand
Click for the full story

Blu-ray consumer base expands to females, family
APRIL 17 | Studios release high-def titles around Mother's Day
Click for the full story

Blu-ray technology takes features to mobiles
APRIL 17 | App for iPhone, BlackBerry, others launching next week
Click for the full story

Blu-ray Q1 sales nearly double in 2009
APRIL 15 | About 9 million units sold so far this year
Click for the full story

Warner bows Inkheart Blu-ray, DVD, digital copy combo
APRIL 14 | Studio targets release to families considering high-def
Click for the full story

Indies price Blu-ray close to standard DVD
APRIL 13 | E1 gives equal pricing to both formats
Click for the full story

Click for more high-def news

Videogames News

Videogame revenue falls 17% in March
APRIL 16 | Industry attributes decline to absence of Easter during month
Click for the full story

Target launches videogame reservation program
APRIL 16 | Retailer also to reward customers with $5 gift card
Click for the full story

Click for more videogames news

VOD News

YouTube logs film, TV deals
APRIL 17 | FROM VARIETY: Company pacts with major Hollywood studios
Click for the full story

Best Buy plans online movie service
APRIL 16 | Chain, CinemaNow in talks for downloads
Click for the full story

German iTunes adds feature films
APRIL 16 | FROM VARIETY: Store offers pics from studios and indies
Click for the full story

Netflix to boost 2009 streaming spending by 33%
APRIL 15 | Company will spend $100 million on digital delivery this year, analyst says
Click for the full story

Click for more VOD news

Technology News

Blu-ray technology takes features to mobiles
APRIL 17 | App for iPhone, BlackBerry, others launching next week
Click for the full story

Netflix, DirecTV allow scheduling through mobiles
APRIL 15 | Subscribers can use iPhones, Blackberries
Click for the full story

AMG to become first 3D network
APRIL 15 | FROM VARIETY: Kerner to offer stereo technology for viewers
Click for the full story

3D@Home group marks first year
APRIL 14 | Progress made toward developing home entertainment standards
Click for the full story

Click for more technology news

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Market Data

Tipsheet Reviews

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Blogs

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Videogames

Online Editor: Samantha Clark
VideoBusiness.com

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