Home Media Magazine - January 20-26, 2008 - (Page 11) www.homemediamagazine.com ELECTRONIC DELIVERY By Chris Tribbey By Erik Gruenwedel nline rental pioneer Netflix Inc. will begin offering its 7 million subscribers unlimited access to a streamed library of more than 6,000 movies and episodic television. The Los Gatos, Calif.-based service previously limited PC-streamed content to one hour per dollar charged to a subscriber’s monthly rental plan. The change affects all plans, with the exception of the $4.99 entrylevel program that limits DVD rentals and streaming to two discs and two hours per month, respectively. The move comes as cable operators, studios and other rental services ramp up digital distribution efforts. Blockbuster Inc. plans to digitally distribute rental content through Movielink and Flash Memory sticks. Apple Inc. announced movie rentals through iTunes (see SONY PARTNERS WITH DIVX Netflix Lifts Streaming Restrictions S story, cover) and jointly with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment will offer an iTunes copy of a movie on the DVD. Netflix earlier this month said it would begin later this year offering movies and related content directly to TVs via a third-party set-top box manufactured by LG Electronics. “Unlimited has always been a very powerful selling point with our subscribers and a large part of what set us apart in the marketplace,” said chief marketing officer Leslie Kilgore. Michael Pachter, media analyst with Wedbush Morgan Securities in Los Angeles, said Netflix’s decision was “inconsequential” considering that he believes few subscribers would have been willing to pay for the streams. ony Pictures Television has partnered with digital media company DivX Inc., opening up Sony titles to online download avenues in the DivX format. “We are dedicated to finding legitimate outlets for our content and to that end are excited to be working with DivX to provide retailers with an expanded ecosystem for the digital distribution and playback of our digital media,” said Michael Arrieta, EVP of digital distribu- O tion and mobile entertainment for Sony Pictures Television. DivX is a digital media format that is different from DIVX, the failed Circuit City-developed home media disc rental system. DivX competes with the Windows Media Video (WMV) format and others. “Consumers want the flexibility and choice to enjoy high-quality video content from a range of retailers across a variety of devices,” said DivX CEO Kevin Hell. Report: DVR Market Reaching Maturity By Erik Gruenwedel xpanded use of the digital video recorder in Europe and Asia coupled with flattening unit shipments and revenue indicates a maturing market for the devices, according to a new study. In-Stat, a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based research firm, said DVR unit shipments are projected to surpass 22.6 million units in 2008, up 15% from 19.6 million units in 2007. REPORT: USER-GENERATED VIDEO UP 70% IN 2007 By Billy Gil A new report by Research and Markets found there were 22.4 billion views of user-generated video (UGV) in 2007, up 70% from 13.2 billion views in 2006. Research and Markets forecasts the UGV market to grow by 52% in 2008, reaching 34 billion views. Other key elements to the report: an estimated 831,147 videos were added to YouTube in 2007; a total of 1,176,123 videos were added to major UGV sites; an average video garnered 10,695 views on select sites; Crackle. com, which has emphasized professionally produced content, led the market in generating average views per video, at 216,596; and Metacafe, which includes adult content, placed second with 85,505 views per video. E The study found the worldwide install base for DVRs was set to reach 44.6 million units at the end of 2007, compared to 33.9 million units in 2006. Annual global DVR shipments should top 31.6 million units by 2011, the report says. TiVo Inc. remains the leading supplier as measured by subscribers. Other suppliers include Time Warner Cable, Comcast Communications, EchoStar and BskyB. TOP 10 RANK TITLE E LE C T R O NI C SELLT H R OUG H Week ended January 12, 2008 RELEASE DATE VIDEO LABEL GENRE TOP 10 RANK TITLE E L E C TRO N I C S E L L THRO U GH Week ended January 13, 2008 RELEASE DATE VIDEO LABEL GENRE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 3:10 to Yuma Dragon Wars Resident Evil: Extinction Stardust Eastern Promises Death Sentence The Kingdom War Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Sexual Healing: Season 1 — Episode 3 1/8/08 1/8/08 1/2/08 12/18/07 12/26/07 1/8/08 12/23/07 1/1/08 12/11/07 6/11/07 Lionsgate Sony Pictures Sony Pictures Paramount Universal Fox Universal Lionsgate Warner Showtime Western Fantasy Action Fantasy Thriller Thriller Thriller Action Fantasy Documentary Source: Movielink 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 3:10 to Yuma Sunshine Resident Evil: Extinction War Death Sentence Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Rush Hour 3 Shoot ‘Em Up Family Guy: Season 6 — Episode 1 Dragon Wars 1/8/08 1/8/08 1/8/08 1/8/08 1/8/08 12/11/07 12/23/07 1/1/08 10/1/07 1/8/08 Lionsgate Fox Sony Pictures Lionsgate Fox Warner New Line New Line Fox Sony Pictures Western Sci-Fi Action Action Thriller Fantasy Comedy Action Comedy Fantasy Source: CinemaNow TOP 10 RANK TITLE RENT A L D OW NLOAD S Week ended January 12, 2008 RELEASE DATE VIDEO LABEL GENRE TOP 10 RANK TITLE RE N TA L DO WN L O A DS Week ended January 13, 2008 RELEASE DATE VIDEO LABEL GENRE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Spider-Man 3 Sunshine Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix December Boys Shoot ‘Em Up Live Free or Die Hard Intimate Affairs I Know Who Killed Me I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry Innocent Voices 12/14/07 1/8/08 1/10/08 12/11/07 1/1/08 12/19/07 1/2/08 1/11/08 12/20/07 11/27/07 Sony Pictures Fox Warner Warner New Line Fox Sony Pictures Universal Lightyear Action Sci-fi Fantasy Drama Action Action Thriller Comedy Drama Source: Movielink 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Shoot ‘Em Up Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End Live Free or Die Hard Whisper Rescue Dawn I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry Ratatouille Next Waitress 1/1/08 1/10/08 12/19/07 12/19/07 1/10/08 12/20/07 12/20/07 12/21/07 11/9/07 12/26/07 New Line Warner Disney Fox Universal Fox/MGM Universal Disney Paramount Fox Action Fantasy Adventure Action Thriller Drama Comedy Animated Thriller Comedy Source: CinemaNow Universal/Screen Media Comedy January 20–26, 2008 Home Media Magazine 11 http://www.homemediamagazine.com
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