Home Media Magazine - March 23-29, 2008 - (Page 14)

ELECTRONIC DELIVERY www.homemediamagazine.com P2P Fights Slim Bandwidth, Lack of Profit By Anne Sherber EW YORK — The debate over whether to distribute content digitally seems to be over. The big issue is figuring out how to make it profitable, according to executives at the Distributed Computer Industry Association (DC/IA) P2P Market Conference March 14. Unless service and content providers can give end-users an acceptable online viewing experience, consumers will be reluctant to participate. Speakers bemoaned the relatively narrow bandwidth available to U.S. N consumers and the limitations that restriction places on the ability of content-delivery networks (CDNs) to meet the increasing demand for highdefinition video. “We are a thirdworld country when it comes to the Internet,” said Doug Walker, CEO of BitTorrent Inc. The spectrum of companies engaged in digital content distribution must figure out how to create customer and shareholder value, Walker said. He said he believes this will be the year of business model re-evaluation. He noted that BitTorrent client software, the end-user piece of BitTorrent’s contentdelivery service, is being downloaded faster. He also said BitTorrent is building relationships with studios. “These guys want to license their content,” he said. “We will help studios connect to a new marketplace.” Walker said this revolution in con- tent delivery will be good for business. “When businesses try to protect their traditional models by restraining what customers want, businesses lose,” he said. “The recording industry is an example of that.” Pando Networks also distributes a software platform that enables digital delivery through a P2P network. Pando CEO Robert Levitan noted that P2P companies will have to collaborate with the telcos and cable companies to provide consumers See P2P, Page 26 GENIUS OFFERS DIGITAL FARE TO THREE COMPANIES By Erik Gruenwedel G DOCURAMA FILMS ON ITUNES By Chris Tribbey TiVo Offers Web Video on the TV — Now By Erik Gruenwedel iVo Inc. began offering broadband subscribers immediate access to select Web video on their televisions. Content includes repurposed TV network newscasts, “Sesame Street” podcasts, MTV News and humor from CHTV. Access to the video requires pur- A pple’s iTunes has added three Docurama films to its store. Selling for $9.99 each, Docurama’s first three films on iTunes are The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, Sir! No! Sir! and Heavy Petting. Docurama said these are the first of their many films that will be made available digitally. T chasing a PC software update (Desktop Plus 2.6) for $24.95. Software for a Mac computer is not yet available. The software transfers downloaded content from a PC to a TiVo DVR, which is playable on TV. TiVo last week announced it will offer video content from YouTube later this year. That service will let subscribers browse, search and watch third-party content through their remote controls. The Alviso, Calif.-based service also said it had begun offering an on-screen guide of select Web-based video for episodic viewing. Finally, subscribers of a third series or high-definition TiVo DVR can play HD video in 720p resolution on a HDTV. enius Products LLC has inked a deal to offer non-exclusive digital license rights of non-Weinstein product to CinemaNow, Netflix and Vudu. Financial terms of the deal for unspecified Genius product were not disclosed. CinemaNow, Netflix and Vudu separately offer digital distribution ranging from streaming and download-to-own to video-on-demand (VOD). The move comes as Santa Monica, Calif.-based Genius attempts to derive 50% of net revenue in 2008 from non-Weinstein branded content, including Genius’ library of about 1,500 catalog titles. “The expansion of our interactive and digital commerce distribution will further leverage our platform and expand relationships with our many branded partners,” said Trevor Drinkwater, president and CEO of Genius. Genius is 70% owned by The Weinstein Co., which is co-owned by Miramax founders Bob and Harvey Weinstein. TOP 10 RANK TITLE E LE C T R O NI C SELLT H R OUG H Week ended March 15, 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 March 16, 2008 RELEASE DATE VIDEO LABEL GENRE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Hitman Beowulf Into the Wild American Gangster The Shepherd: Border Patrol August Rush Road Runner & Wile E. Coyote Cartoons Outpost Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium Bachelor Party 2: The Last Temptation 3/11/08 2/26/08 3/4/08 2/19/08 3/4/08 3/11/08 2/25/08 3/11/08 3/4/08 3/11/08 Fox Paramount Paramount Universal Sony Pictures Warner Warner Sony Pictures Fox Fox Action Fantasy Drama Drama Action Drama Animated Action Fantasy Comedy Source: Movielink 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 No Country for Old Men Hitman Dan in Real Life Into the Wild Beowulf 30 Days of Night August Rush Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium Appleseed: Ex Machina Justice League: The New Frontier 3/11/08 3/11/08 3/11/08 3/4/08 2/26/08 2/26/08 3/11/08 3/4/08 3/11/08 2/26/08 Disney/Miramax Fox Disney/Touchstone Paramount Paramount Sony Pictures Warner Fox Warner Warner Drama Action Comedy Drama Fantasy Horror Drama Fantasy Anime Animated Source: CinemaNow TOP 10 RANK TITLE RENT A L D OW NLOAD S Week ended March 15, 2008 RELEASE DATE VIDEO LABEL GENRE TOP 10 RANK TITLE RE N TA L DO WN L O A DS Week ended March 16, 2008 RELEASE DATE VIDEO LABEL GENRE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 August Rush 30 Days of Night Nancy Drew Michael Clayton Sydney White Why Did I Get Married? 3:10 to Yuma King of California Feast of Love The Brave One 3/11/08 4/11/08 3/11/08 2/19/08 3/6/08 3/12/08 2/6/08 3/14/08 3/6/08 2/5/08 Warner Sony Pictures Warner Warner Universal Lionsgate Lionsgate First Look Fox/MGM Warner Drama Horror Mystery Drama Comedy Comedy Western Drama Romance Thriller Source: Movielink 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 August Rush Michael Clayton Rendition The Brave One Feast of Love No Reservations Nancy Drew Appleseed: Ex Machina Good Luck Chuck Elizabeth: The Golden Age 3/11/08 2/19/08 2/19/08 2/5/08 3/6/08 2/12/08 3/11/08 3/11/08 2/13/08 3/5/08 Warner Warner New Line Warner Fox/MGM Warner Warner Warner Lionsgate Universal Drama Drama Thriller Thriller Romance Comedy Mystery Anime Comedy Drama Source: CinemaNow 14 Home Media Magazine March 23–29, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com

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Home Media Magazine - March 23-29, 2008 Contents News TV DVD Reviews Pipeline Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced

Home Media Magazine - March 23-29, 2008

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