Video Business back issues from June 2009:
Brands stand up.
Jun 01, 2009 ... By Wendy Wilson Well-known DVD franchises prove most popular in downturn Although families are feeling the crunch of the economic downturn, many are still finding money to spare for kids programming on DVD. But the recession is shaping consumer spending in regard to ...
What kids want.(Survey)(Statistical data)
Jun 01, 2009; ... By Cindy Spielvogel When kids have their own money to spend, electronic games, movies and music are among the most popular items they purchase. According to a January survey by Weekly Reader Research (www.weeklyreaderresearch.com ), games ranked second only to ...
Squeezing the dollar.
Jun 01, 2009; ... By Marcy Magiera Would you trade a dollar for a quarter? How about a dime? Nickel? Penny? Probably not, but such are the economics of digital media distribution, as discussed by some of the country's biggest media executives at last week's All Things Digital ...
A Haunting Refrain.
Jun 01, 2009 ... By Chris Gennusa As music DVD slows, labels and stores fine-tune tactics In these tough times, it is imperative that retailers know who their consumers are, National Assn. of Recording Merchandisers president Jim Donio says, on the eve of NARM's annual convention, ...
Less revenue in shortform.(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2009; ... By Cindy Spielvogel Digital music video sales are increasing each year, but sales of music DVDs are mostly in decline, creating a revenue challenge for labels. Digital programming is largely short-form rather than long-form and priced much lower than physical product, so the ...
Game on in rental channel.
Jun 01, 2009 ... By Susanne Ault and Danny King Redbox, Blockbuster step up videogame offerings Two major rental retailers are making aggressive moves in videogames. Blockbuster this month will start testing an online videogames rental program at some Ohio stores, with ...
Warner greets summer with one window.
Jun 01, 2009 ... By Jennifer Netherby and Danny King The June release slate is packed with films debuting on video-on-demand the same day they hit DVD, at least if they're from Warner Home Video. The studio is continuing its strategy of releasing nearly all of its films ...
Nokia app store includes video.
Jun 01, 2009 ... By Jennifer Netherby Nokia's Ovi Store, launched last week, includes an app allowing users to download movies from Amazon, Nokia CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo said at the All Things Digital conference in San Diego last week. Users can also record video with their phones and upload it ...
Scene & Noted.(appointment)(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Staff SCENE : Best Buy hired former Alliance Boots executive Scott Wheway as its chief operating officer of international retail operations while promoting senior VP Sean Skelley to the newly created position of president of international retail operations. Wheway will be ...
Zucker has Hulu profit in sight.
Jun 01, 2009 ... By Jennifer Netherby Service considering subscriptions Overnight video star Hulu is close to breaking even, NBC president and CEO Jeff Zucker said at the Wall Street Journal 's AllThingsDigital conference last week. Now Hulu, a joint venture between NBC ...
Best Buy invests in digital media firms.(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2009; ... By Alan Wolf Best Buy has launched a strategic equity investment fund to help bankroll digital media startups. The fund will invest in companies developing applications for ...
Baker & Taylor partners with OverDrive.
Jun 01, 2009 ... By Susanne Ault Baker & Taylor is expanding its digital distribution capabilities by partnering with technology provider OverDrive. Wholesale distributor ...
MOD, Lieberfarb settle suit.
Jun 01, 2009 ... By Jennifer Netherby Digital kiosk startup MOD Systems has settled its lawsuit with Warren Lieberfarb, who served as a board member and consultant. Terms weren't disclosed. Lieberfarb, the former head of Warner Home Video who was instrumental in the launch of DVD, sued MOD in ...
Retailers see strength in Wii.
Jun 01, 2009 ... By Susanne Ault Grocers, office stores eye game software sales Videogame sales have slowed from their torrid 2008 pace, but retailers still see a lot of momentum in the category heading into the E3 conference and tradeshow in Los Angeles June 1-4. Although ...
Vivendi brings Eebee into family.(Vivendi Entertainment)(Eebee's Adventures)(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2009; ... By Susanne Ault Vivendi Entertainment has acquired domestic DVD, digital and mobile rights to toddler property Eebee's Adventures . Created by Every Baby Company, Eebee's Adventures has already been released in a number of DVD installments. Its video-on-demand series ...
Calling Ghostbusters fans.(GhostbustersIsHiring.com)(Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2009; ... By Susanne Ault Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is offering Ghostbusters fans a chance to star in upcoming BD Live features for the film, streeting on Blu-ray Disc on June 16. The studio has bowed the site GhostbustersIsHiring.com to incorporate fans into the Web-enabled ...
Small Block store turns large profit.
Jun 01, 2009 ... By Danny King Higher financing costs delay further expansion Blockbuster is getting big sales from a smaller-than-average store in New York City with elements of its upgraded "Rock the Block" theme. It will delay expanding the concept, however, until the company can ...
Buddies back for holiday.
Jun 01, 2009 ... By Susanne Ault Franchise collars 15 million units Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment will unleash a new holiday-themed installment of its hit Buddies direct-to-video franchise in time for Thanksgiving. The release of Santa Buddies , due Nov. 24, marks ...
DVD sales down at Borders.
Jun 01, 2009 ... By Danny King Borders Group's fiscal Q1 same-store DVD sales plunged 22% as the chain began to convert store sections devoted to movies and music to categories such as cooking and children's books. The company cut floorspace devoted to multi-media content from a year earlier by ...
CEA eyes better 3D for the home.
Jun 01, 2009 ... By Danny King The Consumer Electronics Assn. will boost its attention to emerging 3D technology by starting a so-called working group dedicated to create standards for home entertainment 3D. Among the ...
Movie Gallery fetes loyalty program.
Jun 01, 2009 ... By Danny King Movie Gallery has signed up more than 1 million customers for the subscription program it started less than three months ago and has given away four home-theater systems to customers who simultaneously qualified ...
Top DVD Sellers.
Jun 01, 2009 ... By Staff Week ended May 23, 2009 ...
Top Blu-ray Sellers.
Jun 01, 2009 ... By Staff Week ended May 23, 2009 <Pre> Top Blu-ray Sellers ------------------------------------------------------------- Rank Title (label/distributor) 1 VALKYRIE (FOX, $39.99) 2 MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D (LG, $39.99) 3 TAKEN (FOX, ...
Top Download-to-Own.
Jun 01, 2009 ... By Staff Week ended May 23, 2009 <Pre>Blockbuster Video ----------------------------------------------- Rank Title (Label/Distributor, SRP) 1 PAUL BLART: MALL COP (SONY, $19.99) 2 TAKEN (FOX, $17.99) 3 UNDERWORLD: RISE OF LYCANS ...
Top DVD Renters.
Jun 01, 2009 ... By Staff Week ended May 23, 2009 ...
Top Specialized Renters.
Jun 01, 2009 ... By Staff Week ended May 23, 2009 ...
DVD Review: Eldorado.
Jun 01, 2009 ... By Cheryl Cheng FILM MOVEMENT Street: July 14 Prebook: June 9 > Touching French road trip film about loneliness. This lightly comic, sweetly touching tale begins when car dealer Yvan (director Bouli Lanners) finds ex-junkie Eli ...
DVD Review: Cherry Blossoms.
Jun 01, 2009 ... By Ed Grant STRAND Street: June 16 Prebook: now > Moving German film about a senior dealing with the impending death of her husband. More than two decades after her first international arthouse hit, Men-- (1985), German filmmaker ...
DVD Review: Push.
Jun 01, 2009 ... By Ed Hulse FOX Street: July 7 Prebook: June 2 > Hyperkinetic, disjointed thriller will appeal to action lovers and sci-fi fans. A near-incoherent action film with sci-fi trappings, Push unfolds in a future dystopia where some ...
DVD Review: Hide.
Jun 01, 2009 ... By Buzz McClain MTI Street: June 30 Prebook: June 2 > Southern crime thriller merges into torture horror. A well-drawn, if uncomfortable convergence of crime drama and torture horror, Hide plays like a Southern gothic version of ...
Blu-ray Review: Gran Torino.
Jun 01, 2009 ... By Susanne Ault Warner Street: June 9 Prebook: now > Fine film sticks to moderate speeds on Blu-ray. Clint Eastwood is a ball of Blu-ray energy, as a simple facial twitch or wink carries intense meaning to anyone around him. His ...
In the kids' dimension.(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2009; ... By Samantha Clark Stop-motion film Coraline will arrive in two-DVD ($34.98) and Blu-ray ($39.98) sets on July 21 (prebook June 2) with both 2D and 3D versions of the film and four sets of 3D glasses. Universal 's movie, which grossed $75 million in theaters, also will be ...
Blu-ray Review: Ghostbusters.
Jun 01, 2009 ... By Cyril Pearl SONY Street: June 16 Prebook: now > Long-anticipated high-def version of the classic comedy fulfills its role. The respectability of the long-awaited Ghostbusters Blu-ray (originally scheduled for release last ...
Interview: Ivan Reitman.
Jun 01, 2009 ... By Laurence Lerman Last week, VB spoke with Ivan Reitman, director of the popular paranormal comedy Ghostbusters , which is celebrating its 25th anniversary with the June 16 release of its Blu-ray edition from Sony and Ghostbusters: The Video Game from Atari. VB : ...
DVD Review: Two Lovers.
Jun 01, 2009 ... By Cyril Pearl MAGNOLIA Street: June 30 Prebook: now > Well-crafted contemporary tale about longing and love. In director James Gray's (We Own the Night , Little Odessa ) latest film about life, love and family in the boroughs of New ...
Halloween Purchasing Guide.
Jun 08, 2009 ... Compiled by Cheryl Cheng Knowing, a Blu-ray of Children of the Corn and more scary movies are coming to DVD this summer and fall, along with some treats for kids July 7 Dead Wood LIONSGATE prebook 6-10; DVD $26.98 Thriller: Two couples spending a weekend ...
Lear's were the days in TV.(Norman Lear)
Jun 08, 2009; ... By Susanne Ault Seth MacFarlane and Phil Rosenthal wish TV programmers were open to taking as many risks today as they did when producer Norman Lear ruled the business in the '70s. The two current hit makers, behind Fox's Family Guy and CBS's Everybody Loves Raymond, ...
Best Buy downloads video.
Jun 08, 2009 ... By Jennifer Netherby CinemaNow to offer new releases from all major studios Best Buy is getting into the digital movie business through a partnership with Sonic Solutions to sell Roxio CinemaNow movies on the Best Buy Web site and on select devices sold in stores. ...
Videogames attract more players.
Jun 08, 2009 ... By Susanne Ault Show producer Entertainment Software Assn. said during the E3 Expo that 68% of U.S. households enjoy computer or video games, representing a 3% uptick over 2008. Adult gamers have been playing for 12 years on average, marking a decrease from 2008. That indicates ...
Scene & Noted.(briefs)(Brief article)
Jun 08, 2009 ... By Staff SCENE : ATM-making giant NCR has tapped Alex Camara , a former executive with Redbox parent Coinstar, to head its movie-rental kiosk-development efforts with Blockbuster. Camara will be VP and general manager of NCR's entertainment solutions division ....
Warner friends BD Live.
Jun 08, 2009 ... By Susanne Ault Blu-ray titles will interact with Facebook Warner Home Video hopes to boost the fledgling BD Live technology by connecting its major Blu-ray Disc releases to Facebook's 200 million active users. Starting with Watchmen , all Warner Blu-ray ...
MPI to distribute IFC titles.
Jun 08, 2009 ... By Cindy Spielvogel IFC Films DVDs will be distributed by MPI Media Group, replacing Genius Products, whose deal to distribute IFC titles expired at the end of 2008. The agreement includes about 30 theatrical titles per year, which will continue to have an exclusive window with ...
Home run hits.(Brief article)
Jun 08, 2009; ... By Danny King To paraphrase the mantra of its hero Roy Hobbs, The Natural (pictured) is, among baseball movies, the best there ever was, according to a Blockbuster blog post. The 1984 drama, which starred Robert Redford, topped Blockbuster's ...
VOD rental period doubled.
Jun 08, 2009 ... By Jennifer Netherby Comcast's longer viewing time still a test for some studios The battle for the rental market is about to get even more competitive. Warner Bros., Walt Disney Studios, Lionsgate and Summit Entertainment will begin offering films on ...
PlayNow service launches movie subs, apps.
Jun 08, 2009 ... By Jennifer Netherby Sony Ericsson is quickly evolving its mobile PlayNow content service into an entertainment hub with the launch of a movie subscription service and a deal to ...
Hello Movies helps users find films online.
Jun 08, 2009 ... By Jennifer Netherby Startup Web site Hello Movies is hoping to capitalize on the growing number of places to find ...
Downloads elusive for indie stores.
Jun 08, 2009 ... By Jennifer Netherby Distributors provide service to libraries first Don't expect local video stores to soon have the ability to offer movie downloads. Video wholesaler Baker & Taylor last week announced a new digital initiative to deliver downloadable ...
New PSP for downloads only.
Jun 08, 2009 ... By Susanne Ault Sony also unveils motion sensor controller at E3 LOS ANGELES--Sony unveiled a digital-only PlayStation Portable handheld, a new motion sensor controller and a slew of exclusive PlayStation titles last week, as the company angled to top E3 rivals with ...
Nintendo reveals new Wii Fit Plus, DSi games.
Jun 08, 2009 ... By George T. Chronis Vitality Sensor peripheral will monitor pulse rate LOS ANGELES--Nintendo unveiled at E3 here more of the mainstream-friendly products that have vaulted the gamemaker to the top of console sales worldwide, now at more than 50 million sold. ...
Microsoft puts people in control.
Jun 08, 2009 ... By Susanne Ault New Xbox remote features body scanner LOS ANGELES--Taking a direct shot at Nintendo Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360 has invented a revolutionary new game controller: the players themselves. Unveiled at the company's E3 Expo press conference here ...
Xbox Live enhances TV, movie viewing.
Jun 08, 2009 ... By Susanne Ault LOS ANGELES--Not just about games, Xbox Live is enhancing TV and film viewing with improved high-definition offerings and new social networking features. These improvements coincide with Xbox replacing its previous store interface with the Zune ...
Top DVD Sellers.
Jun 08, 2009 ... By Staff Week ended May 30, 2009 ...
Top Blu-ray Sellers.
Jun 08, 2009 ... By Staff Week ended May 30, 2009 <Pre> Top Blu-ray Sellers ------------------------------------------------------- Rank Title (label/distributor) 1 TAKEN (FOX, $39.99) 2 VALKYRIE (FOX, $39.99) 3 PAUL BLART: MALL COP (SONY, $35.95) ...
Top Download-to-Own.
Jun 08, 2009 ... By Staff Week ended May 30, 2009 <Pre>Blockbuster Video ----------------------------------------------- Rank Title (Label/Distributor, SRP) 1 PAUL BLART: MALL COP (SONY, $19.99) 2 DEXTER: S:3, EP. 1 (SHOWTIME, $1.99) 3 DEXTER: S:3, ...
Top DVD Renters.
Jun 08, 2009 ... By Staff Week ended May 30, 2009 ...
Top Specialized Renters.
Jun 08, 2009 ... By Staff Week ended May 30, 2009 <Pre>Top Specialized Renters ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title (label/distributor) Index NONTHEATRICAL 1 ...
Blu-ray Review: Woodstock Director's Cut.
Jun 08, 2009 ... By Cyril Pearl WARNER Street: June 9 Prebook: now > Richly produced Blu-ray of the classic concert film. In its Blu-ray Disc presentation, the video and audio quality of Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace and Music Director's Cut can't ...
DVD Review: Bob Funk.
Jun 08, 2009 ... By Ed Hulse MAGNOLIA Street: June 23 Prebook: now > Redemption film has good turns from its female players. Boozy, womanizing Bob Funk (Michael Leydon Campbell) decides to straighten up after his mother (Grace Zabriskie) fires him ...
Speed racers.
Jun 08, 2009 ... By Samantha Clark The fourth movie in the franchise, Fast & Furious will race home on July 28 (prebook June 9) in single-DVD ($29.98), two-DVD ($34.98) and Blu-ray ($39.98) sets. The movie, which grossed $154 million in theaters, stars Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster ...
DVD Review: Harvard Beats Yale 29-29.
Jun 08, 2009 ... By Buzz McClain KINO Street: July 28 Prebook: June 30 > Kevin Rafferty returns with winning sports documentary. The audience for this talking-head documentary is severely limited, as the film is illustrated with grainy game film and ...
DVD Review: Little Red Riding Hood.
Jun 08, 2009 ... By Cyril Pearl MALAPROP Street: June 16 Prebook: now > Teenage Christina Ricci stars in this expressive adaptation of the classic fairy tale. Christina Ricci was still cherub-cheeked when she starred in this dreamy, strangely ...
DVD Review: Miss March.
Jun 08, 2009 ... By Ed Hulse FOX Street: July 28 Prebook: July 1 > So-so youth comedy relies on crude sexual material and gross-out gags. The Whitest Kids U Know 's Zach Cregger and Trevor Moore won themselves a chance to star in and direct a ...
DVD Review: Spinning Into Butter.
Jun 08, 2009 ... By Ed Hulse SCREEN MEDIA/UNIVERSAL Street: June 9 Prebook: now > Ham-fisted, talky drama about racial prejudice has fine cast. Sarah Jessica Parker using the N-word is the big surprise in 2005's Spinning Into Butter , a dour, ...
DVD Review: Pedro.
Jun 08, 2009 ... By Ed Grant WOLFE Street: June 30 Prebook: now > MTV recreates the life of Real World star Pedro Zamora. The life of Pedro Zamora, the HIV-positive star of the third season of The Real World , is celebrated in this MTV production. As ...
TV on DVD Purchasing Guide.(digital versatile disc)(Buyers guide)
Jun 08, 2009 ... Compiled by Cheryl Cheng The debut seasons of new series Crash and '80s series Thirtysomething are on their way to DVD July 7 Ruby: A Journey to Lose the First 100 Pounds LIONSGATE prebook 6-10; DVD $14.98 Reality: A 400-pound woman battles to lose weight ...