Video Business back issues from April 2005:
Truce hopes in high-def: as formal talks pressed.(Sony Corp. and Toshiba Corp. change political dynamics between companies)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Signs of a recent thaw between leaders of the rival high-definition hardware camps are rekindling hopes in Hollywood that a single, unified disc standard could still emerge and avert a full-scale format war in the marketplace. According to sources with knowledge of the ...
Hitching onto DVD quicker.(Video Announcement Vs. Video Release, digital video discs)(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005; ... * The National Assn. of Theatre Owners recently distributed data showing video-window trends over the past 10 years. And sure enough, the window has tightened by almost 1 1/2 months in that span. But NATO also distributed data showing a much more dramatic acceleration in the mere ...
McDonald's adding DVD rentals to second market: Salt Lake City move follows Denver success.(digital video discs)
Apr 04, 2005; ... After nearly a yearlong experiment, McDonald's is heading toward making DVDs as permanent as hamburgers and fries. Within its initial Denver test market, the fast-food giant's DVD rental kiosks are here to stay, officials said last week. Starting in May of last year, McDonald's ...
VSDA: still negotiating to secure confab sponsors: but on track for Bellagio staging.(Home Entertainment 2005, Video Software Dealers Association)
Apr 04, 2005; ... With its annual Home Entertainment convention in Las Vegas approaching, the Video Software Dealers Assn. is engaged in the usual wrangling with Hollywood studios over which will participate in the July confab and how. In what could represent the loss of a longtime show sponsor, ...
Warner reveals slate.(Warner Bros.)(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005; ... * In a three-hour online chat last week, Warner laid out a slew of TV and film titles hitting DVD in the next two years, many for the first time. DVD debuts include Barbra Streisand's A Star is Born; 48 films starring the Bowery Boys; and TV shows including Growing Pains, Knots Landing and ...
VHS and DVD rental spending.(video home systems, digital video discs)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
Apr 04, 2005 ... <Pre> Week ended March 27 $153.1 million (4.1% from 2004) ...
Netflix subs to 3 million.(Vidbits)(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005; ... * Netflix has added 400,000 subscribers since the start of the year, bringing its total to more than 3 million, officials said last week. That's up from the 2.6 million subscribers the company clocked at the start of 2005. Netflix stock shot up 6% to $9.59 following ...
Sony-MGM merger ok'd.(Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.)(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005; ... * Clearing one of the deal's last major hurdles, the European Commission has signed off on Sony's proposed acquisition of MGM. Last week's approval paves the way for the merger transaction to close by mid-April, according to an MGM statement. The EC has "declared the proposed ...
Icahn roils merger waters anew: as Blue announces 200-plus layoffs.(Retail)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Maybe it ain't over 'til it's over, after all. Shares of Hollywood Entertainment jumped on April 1 after billionaire corporate raider Carl Icahn revealed he has accumulated another 1 million shares of the company, bringing his stake up to 10.84%. That sparked speculation on Wall ...
B'buster settles 'late fees' claims: agrees to boost store signage, pay $630,000.(Headliners)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Blockbuster agreed last week to pay $630,000 to settle claims brought by 47 state attorneys general that its "No Late Fees" policy deceived consumers. The payment will be divided among 46 states and the District of Columbia, with each receiving an average of $13,000. ...
Studios hold key to streaming success: confab panelists also cite tech concerns.(Digital Hollywood)
Apr 04, 2005; ... SANTA MONICA, CALIF. -- Getting studios to license more content for streaming video and downloads online remains the key challenge for legal movie download services, according to panelists at Digital Hollywood. During the three-day confab here, executives from CinemaNow, ...
Disney to bow Lilo 2 as DVD premiere: Tarzan also set.(Walt Disney Co. plans video recording release, Tarzan II, Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch, digital video discs )(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Some animated franchises are natural candidates for DVD premiere franchising, and the $146 million domestic box office for Lib & Stitch made the 2002 theatrical hit a sure shot for a shiny-disc sequel, said Lori MacPherson, VP brand marketing at Buena Vista Home Entertainment. ...
Rentals down, revenue up at Hastings: videogames blamed for rentals sag.(financial report of Hastings Entertainment Inc.)(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Slumped rental activity dragged down Texas-based Hastings Entertainment's most recent earnings report. The specialty music, film and book chain posted $4.8 million in fourth-quarter net income for the period ended Jan. 31. That's a 61% drop from the comparable frame last year. ...
Weinsteins leave library.(Harvey and Bob Weinstein)(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005; ... At least one question has been answered related to Harvey and Bob Weinstein's looming split from Disney: They will be leaving the Miramax and Dimension libraries behind. More than 550 catalog titles will remain at the Mouse House, although the Weinsteins will take the Dimension label with ...
Midway courts kids.(Midway Games Inc. signs licensing deal with Warner Bros.)(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Sumner Redstone's Midway Games has signed its second major Hollywood licensing deal, once again with a Time Warner division. Vidgame publisher will make a game based on Happy Feet, a CG-animated pic Warner Bros. will release next year with Village Roadshow ....
Betamax schmetamax: the justices seemed to almost plead for help in finding a new standard.(Headliners)
Apr 04, 2005; ... EXECUTIVE SUMMARY * Studios stubbornly reject the Betamax standard in their lawsuit against Grokster and Streamcast yet fail to define what standard the P2P software providers should be held to. * If the Supreme Court does not rule based on the Betamax precedent, it ...
Dr. Love.(Just Announced ...)(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Will Smith's romantic comedy Hitch makes a date with home video on June 14 (prebook May 12). Sony's disc ($28.95; VHS rental) features deleted scenes, ...
Bill & Ted's most excellent collection.(Just Announced ...)(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005; ... MGM offers a bodacious three-disc set ($29.98) of the films starring teenage misfits Bill and Ted. Streeting July 12 (prebook June 14), the collection contains Bill & Ted's ...
Tilt.(Just Announced ...)(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005; ... ESPN's TV series about the professional poker circuit places its bets on DVD June 14 (prebook May 3). Distributed by Buena ...
Rescue Me: the Complete First Season.(Just Announced ...)(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Sony releases the Golden Globe-nominated TV show on June 7 (prebook May 5) with a three-disc set containing commentary, bloopers, ...
This Is Your Life--the ultimate collection.(Just Announced ...)(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005; ... One of the longest running TV shows will be available on DVD May 31 (prebook May 6) from R2 Entertainment and Ralph Edward Prods. Priced at $49.99, the three-disc set features 18 30-minute episodes of ...
The Staircase.(Just Announced ...)(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005; ... The documentary about a true-life murder mystery climbs to stores in a two-disc set on Aug. 30 (prebook ...
Black Cadillac.(Features)(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005; ... BLACK CADILLAC Driving to home video on May 17 (prebook April 19) is DEJ's thriller starring Randy Quaid ....
2B Perfectly Honest.(Features)(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005; ... 2B PERFECTLY HONEST Monarch's comedy starring Andrew McCarthy streets May 24 (prebook May 2) ....
Stargate Atlantis: Rising.(video recordings)(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005; ... STARGATE ATLANTIS: RISING On June 7 (prebook May 10), the premiere movie of Sci Fi Channel's series travels to DVD ...
Major Dundee: Extended Version.(video recordings)(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005; ... MAJOR DUNDEE: EXTENDED VERSION Sony celebrates the 40th anniversary of this western with the film's May 31 DVD rerelease. Priced at ...
Davey and Goliath Vol. I.(Starlight Home Entertainment releases animation series )(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005; ... DAVEY AND GOLIATH VOL. I Starlight releases the classic clay animation series on June 7 (prebook May 13). The two-disc collector's edition ...
Inspiring Animated Heroes: Helen Keller.(Children's)(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005; ... INSPIRING ANIMATED HEROES: HELEN KELLER Nest Family releases the ...
Indy 500 promo pack.(Lions Gate Home Entertainment to release its collection of auto racing titles)(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005; ... INDY 500 PROMO PACK Start your engines! Lions Gate speeds its collection of auto racing titles to DVD on May 3 (prebook April 5). ...
Correction.(Correction Notice)
Apr 04, 2005 ... CORRECTION: New Line's NC- 17 version of A Dirty Shame will ...
A Different Loyalty.(Video Recording Review)
Apr 04, 2005; ... A Different Loyalty Color, R (mature themes, brief nudity, language), 96 min., DVD $26 98, VHS rental DVD: no extras Street: May 10, Prebook: April 12 First Run: Int'l, Oct. 2004 Cast: Sharon Stone (Catwoman), Rupert Everett (Stage Beauty), Julian Wadham (The English Patient), Michael ...
The Graffiti Artist.(Video Recording Review)
Apr 04, 2005; ... The Graffiti Artist Color, NR (mature themes, sexual situations, mature themes), 79 min., DVD only $29.95 DVD: cast and crew interviews Street; May 3, Prebook: April 12 First Run: DVD premiere Cast: Ruben Bansie-Snellman (Elephant), Pepper Fajans Director: James Bolton INDIE-PICTURES ...
Poor orphans: Lemony Snicket's a Series of Unfortunate Events: Two-Disc Collector's Edition.(Video Recording Review)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Poor orphans Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events: Two-Disc Collector's Edition Paramount, color, PG, 108 min. plus supplements, Dolby Digital 5.1, widescreen, Street: April 26, $39.98; First Run: W, Dec. 2004, $118.2 mil. Although Lemony Snicket is a movie that's ...
Blade stunners ... House of Flying Daggers.(Video Recording Review)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Blade stunners ... House of Flying Daggers Sony, color, PG-13, 119 min. plus supplements, Dolby Digital, widescreen, Street: April 19, $28.95; First Run: L, Dec. 2004, $10.8 mil. Zhang Yimou's second big-budget martial-arts saga (Hero struck first) is a "couples" action movie ...
And blood suckers: Blade: Trinity.(Video Recording Review)
Apr 04, 2005; ... And blood suckers Blade: Trinity New Line/Warner, color, two discs, unrated and R rated, 123 min. plus supplements, 5.1 Dolby EX/DTS ES, widescreen, Street: April 26, $29.95: First Run: W, Dec. 2004, $52.3 mil. The third installment in the Blade series follows in the tradition ...
The Lost Angel.(Video Recording Review)
Apr 04, 2005; ... The Lost Angel Color, R (mature themes, violence, language). 100 min., DVD $24.95, VHS $49.95 DVD: no extras Street: April 26, Prebook: April 14 First Run: Video premiere Cast: Alison Eastwood (Poolhall junkies), Judd Nelson (Cyber Mutt), Nicholas Celozzi II, C. Thomas Howell (The Hillside ...
DVD daddy: for Father's Day, the gift of entertainment.(digital video discs)
Apr 04, 2005; ... The weeks leading up to Father's Day--which falls on June 19 this year, just a few weeks after Memorial Day--is a great time to sell westerns, war movies and other titles appealing to dads, according to industry experts. Last year, 72% of Americans said they planned to celebrate ...
New releases: key data for ordering product.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
Apr 04, 2005 ... <Pre> FEATURE FILMS PREBOOK RELEASE No. of TITLE (RATING) DATE DATE COPIES LABEL/DISTRIBUTOR DVD/VHS DVD/VHS I AM THE CHEESE (NR) 4-25 5-31 EMPIRE SPACESHIP (NR) ...
DVDX weekly top picks.(digital video discs Exclusive Academy )(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005 ... Based on preliminary rating for April 5-26 releases by the 600 voting members of the DVD Exclusive Academy through March 22: OVERALL DVD, NEW MOVIE Hotel Rwanda (MGM, 4-12) Sideways (Fox, 4-5) Blade: Trinity (New Line/Warner, 4-26) ...
Top DVD sellers: week ended March 27, 2005.(digital video discs)(Illustration)
Apr 04, 2005 ... <Pre> Top DVD sellers WEEK ENDED MARCH 27, 2005 VB RANKING THIS LAST WEEKS ON WEEK WEEKCHART TITLE (LABEL/DISTRIBUTOR, SRP) 1 12 THE INCREDIBLES (BV, $28.99) 2 NEW 1 FINDING NEVERLAND (MIR/BV, $29.99) 3 NEW 1 ...
Top VHS sellers: week ended March 27, 2005.(video home systems)(Illustration)
Apr 04, 2005 ... <Pre> Top VHS Sellers WEEK ENDED MARCH 27, 2005 VB RANKING THIS LAST WEEKS ON WEEK WEEKCHART TITLE (LABEL/DISTRIBUTOR, SRP) 1 NR 22 THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST (FOX,$14.98) 2 12 THE INCREDIBLES ...
Top renters: week ended March 27, 2005.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
Apr 04, 2005 ... <Pre> Top renters WEEK ENDED MARCH 27, 2005 THIS LAST WEEKS IN WEEK WEEK RELEASETITLE (LABEL/DISTRIBUTOR) 1 12 THE INCREDIBLES (BV) 2 23 LADDER 49 (BV) 3 NEW 1 FINDING NEVERLAND (MIR/BV) 4 NEW 1 ...
Top specialized renters: week ended March 27, 2005.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
Apr 04, 2005 ... <Pre> NONTHEATRICALTITLE (LABEL/DISTRIBUTOR) REVENUE ($ IN MILS.) 1 DEAD BIRDS (SONY) $0.66 2 INTO THE SUN (SONY)0.46 3 VOLCANO HIGH (FOX) 0.42 4 ...
Box office report.(Illustration)
Apr 04, 2005 ... <Pre> Box Office report PROVIDED BY VARIETY WEEKEND GROSS: $99.2 MILLION YEAR-TO-DATE GROSS: $1.9 BILLION WEEKEND LAST VIDEO DAYS OF GROSSPICTURE WEEK ...
Stock performance.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
Apr 04, 2005 ... <Pre> Stock performanceShare price 52-week Company 3/30/05 3/2/05 highlow Amazon.com (AMZN)$34.32 $35.50 $54.70 $32.82 Best Buy Co. * (BBY) 53.32 53.91 62.20 43.87 ...
PSP sales solid.(Vidbits)(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005; ... * Sales of the PSP appear solid but unspectacular. According to American Technology Research notes, initial sales for Sony's handheld videogame and movie system are proving strong, but stores aren't wiping out of their stock as quickly as originally anticipated. AmTech has ...
Genius further in red.(financial report of Genius Products)(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005; ... * Charges relating to its Wellspring acquisition deepened Genius Products' fourth-quarter red ink despite a dramatic leap in revenue. The Solaria Beach, Calif.-based supplier reported a loss of $3 million in its latest quarter, compared with $688,000 in red ink in the final quarter of ...
BuenaVista.(appointment of Jeanne Shurie )(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005 ... Jeanne Shurie has been promoted to VP trade marketing at ...
National Lampoon.(appointment of Sara Rutenberg )(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005 ... National Lampoon has named Sara Rutenberg executive VP business ...
UMVD.(appointment of Mike Steimley)(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005 ... Mike Steimley has been appointed UMVD's director finance and sales ...
Correction.(Scene & Noted)(Correction Notice)
Apr 04, 2005 ... CORRECTION: Steve Brown is senior VP merchandising overseeing buying at Hollywood Entertainment. The chain's executive ...
Datebook.(Think Inc.)(Calendar)
Apr 04, 2005 ... April 15 Rocky Mountain IDEA Seminar and Nuggets Game 10 a.m. at the Red Lion Hotel in Denver followed by Nuggets game. Details: www.vsda.org May 3 Great Lakes VSDA Spring Showcase Giveaways, vendor booths, presentations and dinner ...
The latest tally: it's hard to keep up with all the splits and joinings going on in the industry.(Think Inc.)
Apr 04, 2005; ... For those keeping score in the game of entertainment biz ... * Blockbuster is not buying Hollywood Entertainment. * Movie Gallery is (trying) to buy Hollywood. * Sony has bought MGM, though the MGM brand will carry on as the studio continues to operate as ...
Icahn rails at B'buster: Decries failed merger.(Carl Icahn)( Hollywood Entertainment)(Brief Article)
Apr 11, 2005; ... Living up to his reputation as a fearsome corporate raider, Carl Icahn struck against Blockbuster on April 7, vowing to nominate his own slate of directors at the company's upcoming annual meeting and threatening a complete takeover of the retailer if his demands aren't met. In ...
Titles uptick.(Video recordings)(Brief Article)
Apr 11, 2005; ... * The first data are in regarding first-quarter product releases, and to nobody's surprise, TV-on-DVD was up big time, though the niche's 42% burst was perhaps even more dramatic than some might have guessed. Overall, excluding adult releases, almost 2% more titles--or 2,582 titles, ...
Lion sleeps tonight: Sony group completes MGM buy.(Suppliers)(Sony Pictures Television)(Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc)(Brief Article)
Apr 11, 2005; ... The Sony-led investment consortium has finalized its $4.8 billion acquisition of MGM, giving the Culver City, Calif.-based studio effective control of the Lion's 4,000-title movie library. MGM chief financial officer Dan Taylor was crowned MGM president with the closing of the ...
Hollywood vets buying Ardustry home video unit: move by Sagansky, McCluggage welcome.(Ardustry Home Entertainment)(Jeff Sagansky and Kerry McCluggage )(Brief Article)
Apr 11, 2005; ... Former studio heavyweights Jeff Sagansky and Kerry McCluggage appear to be finalizing an acquisition of Ardustry Home Entertainment. Ardustry CEO Cheryl Freeman was unavailable for comment, but other well-placed sources said an official announcement of the deal was expected ...
New team for Goldhil.(Vidbits)(Goldhil Home Media appointed Mark Curcio)(Brief Article)
Apr 11, 2005; ... * Goldhil is under new management. The CEO is now Mark Curcio, whose former positions include CEO of Artisan. And chief operating officer is Paul Culberg, once executive VP of Columbia, now Sony. A spokesman for Goldhil confirmed the company's former owner-managers have left but said the ...
VHS anD DVD rental spending.
Apr 11, 2005 ... Week ended April 3 $143.6 million (-3.4% from 2004) ...
Disney's MovieBeam moving toward national footing: as sources talk of new investors.(Video-On-Demand)(Brief Article)
Apr 11, 2005; ... After a two-year trial run in three cities, Disney is expected to launch its MovieBeam video-on-demand service nationally this fall with an ownership twist--a venture capital firm stake, with Disney no longer the sole owner, sources said. "We've always said that our intention ...
New Wal-Mart campaign targets Asian-American consumers: prompted by group's growing buying prowess.(Retail)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc)(Brief Article)
Apr 11, 2005; ... Wal-Mart is trying its first foreign-language ad campaign aimed at Asian-Americans. Launched April 1, the campaign will run through January, officials said last week. Among the ads is a TV spot in which a Chinese family talks about the chain as a place to buy videogames and ...
Bo leads VSDA 'til 2008.(Vidbits)(Bo Andersen)(Video Software Dealers Association)(Brief Article)
Apr 11, 2005; ... * The board of VSDA has extended president Bo Andersen's contract through 2008. "The board is thrilled that we will continue to have the benefit of Bo's strategic vision and his ability to translate our goals by concrete action," said chair ...
Lions Gate mulls Hit bid.(Vidbits)(Lions Gate Entertainment Inc.)(HIT Entertainment PLC)(Brief Article)
Apr 11, 2005; ... * Lions Gate is reportedly considering making a $1 billion offer for U.K. children's TV and video producer Hit Entertainment. Lions Gate said last week that it has requested due diligence information from Hit and is likely to make an offer. "There can be no assurance that ...
War of the Worlds sparks rights battle: indie pic competing with Paramount's.(Suppliers)
Apr 11, 2005; ... In a real-life David and Goliath story, director Timothy Hines claims he's being bullied by Paramount Pictures over his indie film H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds. It's all systems go to distribute a DVD of his War to retailers beginning June 15, Hines said, though there is ...
Pontiff's death produces surge of new pope titles: as retailers report brisk business.(Retail)(Pope John Paul II )
Apr 11, 2005; ... The death of the pope on April 2 stirred up a flurry of activity among distributors, retailers and consumers. New documentaries about Pope John Paul II were rushed to market, and existing titles were the subject of renewed interest. Borders bookstores around the ...