Home Media Magazine - February 17-23, 2008 - (Page 10)

HIGH-DEF www.homemediamagazine.com NPD: Tepid Consumer Interest in Blu-ray By Erik Gruenwedel he Blu-ray Disc Association may have declared victory over HD DVD, but consumers remain largely indifferent toward highdef packaged media, according to a new study. The report from the NPD Group, based on a sample group of 6,000 frequent DVD buyers, found that fewer than 10% of respondents said they would buy either a standalone Blu-ray or HD DVD player in the next six months. Despite Warner Home Video’s decision in January to exclusively release high-def discs in Blu-ray after May, the number of respondents intending BRIEFS I MOVIEFLIX BOWS UNLIMITED DOWNLOADS MovieFlix, a Los Angeles-based online service, has begun offering unlimited downloads and streams for a $9.95 monthly fee. The service claims to have a catalog of more than 4,000 — largely public domain titles across multiple genres, including adult. – Erik Gruenwedel T to purchase a BD player increased just 1.8%, to 8.1%, as of Jan. 16, according to the study. Russ Crupnick, VP and senior entertainment analyst with The NPD Group, said even such a small percentage increase when based on the number of DVD-buying U.S. households could result in sales of 1.6 million standalone BD players. There are about 1 million standalone Blu-ray and HD DVD players combined in the United States, according to NPD. “I think it is a positive sign but not an overwhelming game changer,” Crupnick said. “It is significant from a marketing standpoint. It will take some time for all of this to trickle down at retail.” He said a caveat of the study is that intent among respondents to purchase high-def media often is not followed through at retail. “It is a measure of awareness,” Crupnick said. “How positive somebody feels about the format and not necessarily translating to actual sales.” Crupnick said a previous NPD study for HDTV found that a majority of respondents were satisfied with standard DVD. Indeed, Warner last year in a consumer study found that more than 50% of respondents were indifferent toward HD packaged media. I STUDY: DTT MARKET EXPECTED TO REACH 350M UNITS BY 2013 The market for digital terrestrial TV receivers, which allow for over-theair digital transmissions, is expected to reach 350 million units by 2013, from 65 million units in 2007, according to a new research report. The report by ABI Research in New York found that about 85% of 2007’s DTT units support digital television and digital set-top box markets, while 15% comprise other consumer electronics or PC applications. The DTT infrastructure is comprised of several formats, including ATSC in North America, ISDB in Japan, DVB-T in Europe and Australia, and DMBT/H in China. U.S. broadcasters will incorporate the ATSC standard next year when all over-the-air analog transmissions convert to digital. The standard is mandatory in all digital TVs sold after March 1, 2007. – Erik Gruenwedel FEDS, RETAIL TACKLING DTV TRANSITION By Erik Gruenwedel etting a digital converter box or HDTV won’t guarantee that a sizable percentage of 117 million TV sets won’t go dark when broadcasters switch to digital transmissions Feb. 17, 2009, according to a new study. The study by Centris said weak broadcast signals or inadequate rooftop antennas could hinder digital coverage regardless of HDTV or presence of a converter box. The report found little continuous coverage for homes beyond a 35-mile radius of TV transmission towers. As a result, households at lower levels, surrounded by trees or using set-top box antennas (rabbit ears) are susceptible to not receiving an over-the-air digital signal. Centris found that 45% of respondents were unaware of the transition to digital, and only 56% knew when it would take place. G To help alleviate confusion, Circuit City Stores Inc. said it will begin a yearlong instore consumer education campaign that includes a live Web forum hosted by Sound & Vision magazine. In addition, the federal government is offering consumers a $40 discount card toward the purchase of a digital converter set-top box. Lawmakers involved in the $1.5 billion coupon program are considering extending the 90-day window consumers receiving cards have to purchase a converter box. Circuit City said it will sell the boxes for $59.99. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Best Buy Inc. also will stock the devices priced from $40 to $70. Still, Centris EVP David Klein said the box won’t guarantee receiving a digital signal. “Consumers are being urged to purchase equipment that may or may not work,” he said. Michael Bay Relishes Blu-ray’s Victories By Fred Topel hen Paramount Home Entertainment decided to support HD DVD exclusively, Michael Bay threatened to back out of the sequel for Transformers. He took back his threat and is developing Transformers 2. But as Blu-ray is gaining momentum, Bay can’t help but remind us he told us so. “Blu-ray’s better, and I told everyone,” Bay said at the Visual Effects Society’s sixth annual award show, where he presented the award for animated character in a motion picture. “Am I thrilled? It really wasn’t my fight, but remember what I said in the press? I was kind of saying HD [DVD]’s going to lose,” he said. “No one W believed me.” Many of Bay’s films were produced by studios that have supported Blu-ray from the beginning. Bay personally supervises his Blu-ray transfers and says he loves his preferred format. “It’s just sharper,” he said. “It’s just [that] the tools are better. I just think it’s closer to what it should look like.” With many of Bay’s films 10 years or older, Blu-ray editions may reveal flaws by bringing them into sharper focus. The Blu-ray edition of The Rock appears grainy in certain shots, but Bay uses it as an artistic choice. “There’s actually some grain in Transformers,” he said. “We pushed it just a little too much. I don’t mind grain. Grain has a vibe.” TOP 10 HIGH-DEF SELLERS H IG H -D EF SELLER S Week ended February 10, 2008 FORMAT LABEL INDEX TOP 10 HIGH-DEF SELLERS HI GH- DE F S E L L E RS Aggregate by Title Week ended February 10, 2008 FORMAT LABEL INDEX TITLE TITLE American Gangster H I G H -D E F CO M I NG U P STREETING American Gangster HD DVD Universal Street Date: 2/19 In the Valley of Elah Blu-ray Warner Street Date: 2/19 The Invasion HD DVD Warner Street Date: 2/19 Michael Clayton Blu-ray Warner Street Date: 2/19 Run Lola Run Blu-ray Sony Pictures Street Date: 2/19 Beowulf HD DVD Paramount Street Date: 2/26 PREBOOKING The Water Horse Blu-ray Sony Pictures Pre: 2/21, Street: 4/8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Across the Universe The Assassination of Jesse James … The Brave One Blood Diamond Goodfellas 3:10 to Yuma Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End Planet Earth: The Complete Series Elizabeth: The Golden Age 300 Blu-ray Blu-ray Blu-ray Blu-ray Blu-ray Blu-ray Blu-ray Blu-ray HD DVD/DVD Blu-ray Sony Pictures Warner Warner Warner Warner Lionsgate Disney BBC Video Universal Warner 100.00 68.92 65.65 38.78 36.67 34.44 30.50 28.45 27.42 25.82 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Across the Universe The Assassination of Jesse James … The Brave One Blood Diamond Goodfellas 3:10 to Yuma Planet Earth: The Complete Series 300 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End Elizabeth: The Golden Age Blu-ray Sony Pictures Blu-ray Warner Blu-ray Warner BD; HD DVD Warner BD; HD DVD Warner Blu-ray Lionsgate BD; HD DVD BBC Video BD; HD DVD/DVD Warner Blu-ray Disney HD DVD/DVD Universal 100.00 68.92 66.83 40.13 39.31 34.44 31.58 30.72 30.50 27.42 Source: Nielsen VideoScan First Alert data Source: Nielsen VideoScan First Alert data TOP 5 HIGH-DEF BLU-R AY D ISC Week ended February 10, 2008 LABEL INDEX TOP 5 HIGH-DEF HD DVD Week ended February 10, 2008 LABEL INDEX TITLE TITLE 1 2 3 4 5 Across the Universe The Assassination of Jesse James by the … The Brave One Blood Diamond Goodfellas Sony Pictures Warner Warner Warner Warner 100.00 68.92 65.65 38.78 36.67 1 2 3 4 5 Elizabeth: The Golden Age The Bourne Ultimatum Transformers The Kingdom Batman Begins Universal 100.00 Universal 56.54 Para./DreamWorks 51.60 Universal 30.12 Warner 26.70 Source: Nielsen VideoScan First Alert data Source: Nielsen VideoScan First Alert data Home Media Magazine February 17–23, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com

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Contents News Health/Fitness Reviews Pipeline Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced

Home Media Magazine - February 17-23, 2008

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