More Articles By Susanne Ault

• HD DVD set-top player sales rebound
  JAN. 29 | HD DVD hardware totaled about 33% of all high-definition set-top unit sales for the week ended Jan. 19, according to NPD Group data, marking a rebound from the prior week when Blu-ray Disc commanded 90% of high-def player purchases. More
  
• Image fights for BTP distribution agreement
  JAN. 28 | With the Image Entertainment-BTP Acquisition Group merger faltering, Image is trying to enforce an output agreement for distribution of BTP’s Capitol Films and ThinkFilm product. More
  
• Image, BTP close to terminating merger
  JAN. 25 | BTP Acquisition Co.’s purchase of Image Entertainment appears close to collapse, as both parties are claiming the other is in breach of contract. More
  
• WWE builds brand with boutique sections
  JAN. 25 | World Wrestling Entertainment is pushing a boutique merchandising strategy to retail nationally in 2008, following F.Y.E.’s success with the concept. More
  
• Sony releases MTV programs for PSP
  JAN. 24 | Sony Computer Entertainment America has licensed MTV programming for viewing on the PlayStation Portable, which represents some of the first new non-Sony product released for the PSP in some time. More
  
• UMGD adds CEO to Urie position
  JAN. 24 | Jim Urie has been promoted to CEO of Universal Music Group Distribution, the parent company to such divisions as DVD label Vivendi Visual Entertainment. More
  
• Blu-ray player sales jump after Warner move
  JAN. 23 | On the heels of Warner Bros. Entertainment’s end of 2007 announcement about dropping its HD DVD support, Blu-ray Disc set-tops dominated 90% of all high-definition hardware unit sales for the week ended Jan. 12, according to the NPD Group. More
  
• Sony lifts Schessel to president of worldwide affairs
  JAN. 23 | Peter Schlessel has been named president of worldwide affairs at Sony Pictures Entertainment. More
  
• Oscar nominees line up on DVD release slate
  JAN. 22 | One of the leading contenders for this year’s Oscars, No Country For Old Men , is slated to street on Blu-ray Disc and DVD on March 11. More
  
• The format war cost home entertainment in 2007
  JAN. 21 | The home entertainment industry suffered its first significant year-to-year decline in consumer spending in 2007, a victim of an overcrowded fourth quarter and the raging high-definition format war. But studio chiefs are heading into 2008 hopeful that growth in high-def will finally make up for losses in the maturing DVD format. More
  
• Consumers download NBC Universal shows at CES
  JAN. 18 | Over the course of the Jan. 7-10 CES show, attendees downloaded more than 10,000 NBC Universal programs onto SanDisk flash drives from Mediaport kiosks as part of a partnership. More
  
• Retailers adjust high-def space
  JAN. 18 | Following Warner Bros. Entertainment’s decision to support Blu-ray Disc exclusively, some key retailers are adjusting how they merchandise high-definition discs. More
  
• Trans World closes distribution facility
  JAN. 18 | After reporting unexpected 2007 year losses, Trans World Entertainment will shut its North Canton, Ohio, distribution center in order to streamline operations. More
  
• Videogames lift 43% in 2007
  JAN. 17 | Driven by consumer demand for advanced consoles, videogame software and hardware achieved record sales of $17.94 billion in 2007, according to the NPD Group. That haul represents a 43% jump over 2006. Overall software sales lifted 34% to $8.64 billion. This category was boosted by the year’s best-performing title, Halo 3 . More
  
• NARM to honor Navarre’s Paulson
  JAN. 17 | Eric Paulson, founder and executive chairman of Navarre Corp., will receive the National Assn. of Recording Merchandisers’ Presidential Award for Sustained Executive Achievement. More
  
• Globe winners, nominees promoted despite lack of show
  JAN. 16 | The show didn’t go on, but retailers are treating Golden Globe nominees and winners as they normally would, singling them out with signage as they street on DVD. More
  
• Fox decodes Apple DRM for DVD downloadable copies
  JAN. 15 | 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment will be significantly expanding its slate of releases embedded with digital copies, after securing the ability to use Apple’s digital rights management technology. The first titles are Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest (pictured), which streeted today, and the upcoming action feature Hitman on March 11. More
  
• Borders gets exclusive lease on Life
  JAN. 14 | In one of its first DVD ‘gets’, Borders will be exclusively selling the first season of This American Life . For six months, Borders will be the only retailer offering the title, which is priced at $19.99. More
  
• Toshiba plans big HD DVD marketing campaign
  JAN. 14 | Toshiba is launching a massive marketing campaign for its HD DVD hardware, including granting $150 to $200 price chops on players. More
  
• Image, BTP merger deadline extended
  JAN. 14 | Image Entertainment and BTP Acquisition Company have again extended the deadline to finalize their merger to Feb. 1. More