Home Media Magazine - November 4-10, 2007 - (Page 24)

NEWS By Chris Tribbey he studios’ recent offer of downloads on DVDs and its affect on piracy was a source of debate among digital rights management (DRM) experts at Digital Hollywood in Hollywood Oct. 31. Warner Home Video and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment are the first two studios to address consumers’ desires for digital downloads by including downloadable copies of films on the DVDs of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Live Free or Die Hard, respectively. “When people can’t easily acquire what they want by legitimate means, they will use illegitimate means to get it,” said Doug Warner, VP of business development for HewlettPackard’s digital entertainment services. “Our goal is to help [content owners] figure out how to get fair value for their content.” www.homemediamagazine.com Panel Hails Digital Copies on DVDs Digital’s Second Revolution T The studios’ move to include content downloads is “making buying easier than stealing” for would-be pirates, according to Jay Samit, strategic advisor for Navio and a former executive for Sony Corp. “Does it make piracy easier? Absolutely not,” he said. Fox demonstrated how to download a film from a DVD to the computer and then transfer one copy to a portable device. Only two copies are allowed. If or when someone does break the rules set by studios, the question arises as to whether it will be an open-and-shut win for studios in the courtroom. “The copyright law gives a multifactor, case-by-case test of [ fair use],” said Neil Netanel, a law professor at UCLA. “It’s quite difficult to predict in advance, even more so in the digital world.” Fox and Warner are giving consumers what they want and still pro- tecting their content from abuse, most agreed. Yet HP’s Warner said studios shouldn’t expect greater sales if digital editions are included. “Nobody wants to lock up the content and not let people have what they want,” said Stacey Byrnes, SVP of intellectual property counsel for NBC Universal. “I think in 2007, copy-protection technologies are more blunt than we like when it comes to fair use,” said Michael Ayers, senior attorney for Toshiba America Information Systems Inc. “[However] there needs to be some sense of security for the content owner.” He added that the improved encryption used on Bluray Disc and HD DVD could allow for easier managed copying. Samit noted that because of stricter DRM and more aggressive litigation, estimated losses to piracy are half of what they were five years ago. Continued from page 1 It’s all a matter of companies doing the right things to make those shows available to consumers in an easy, yet profitable fashion, whether by charging them, or wrapping advertising around the content. “Increasingly, the TV networks are moving from a broadcast system to a you-cast system,” said Ed Forman, COO and EVP of ICTV. “The challenge … is the way the network will be put together,” said Tim Bridges, media and entertainment practice lead for Capgemini, pointing to the reoccurring statement by consumers that they want their content on the TV regardless. “Will there be one standard that connects the computer to the [consumer electronics] in the house? “I wouldn’t throw away your DVD player just yet.” More and more TV networks are allowing their shows to be viewed online shortly after the air date, said Jordy Koski, director of marketing for Extend Media. For movies, however, “there are more restrictive licensing terms.” “Movies will continue to be important [online], but they’re obviously far behind,” said Bruce Anderson, SVP of Movielink and Blockbuster Online. “The TV networks have woken up a lot sooner. [But] movies are different than TV episodes, which are already ad-supported.” Online video for profit is becoming more of a do-it-yourself idea, according to Koski, pointing to NBC pulling its videos from iTunes. “Maybe we need to rethink another portal establishing our relationship with the consumer,” he said. “Maybe we should be doing it ourselves.” P E O P LE CLASSIFIED SHOWCASE BUSINESS SERVICES DI STR I B UTOR I HASTINGS UPS FUENTES Hastings Entertainment Inc. has promoted Victor D. Fuentes to VP and divisional merchandise manager. He will handle initiatives regarding books, movies, video games, consumer electronics and used product. Fuentes previously was divisional merchandise manager of movies, video games and conFuentes sumer electronics. He has been with the company since 1987. He was formerly president of National Geographic Music & Radio and has helped bring on board such talent as U2 and Peter Gabriel to National Geographic-related projects. Prior to National Geographic, Beal was president of Palm Pictures. Incorporate Today Don't star in a horror movie, protect your personal assets today! Incorporate or form an LLC in just minutes and at the fraction of the cost of using an attorney. We are fast, easy, and affordable. Call us today at 1-877-261-9621 or visit www.corporate.com to learn more. FREE CATALOG AMERICA’S LARGEST DISTRIBUTOR Vicente Fernandez, India Maria, Cantinflas, Etc. I NISHIMURA-SEESE JOINS NETFLIX Netflix Inc. has appointed Lisa Nishimura-Seese to the newly created role of VP of independent content acquisition. She will add independent and small-studio films to Netflix’s catalog of online rentals. The position is the first to focus exclusively on acquiring independent content for Netflix. Nishimura-Seese Nishimura-Seese most recently served as GM of Palm Pictures. Prior to that she was head of sales and marketing for Six Degrees Records. — Billy Gil SPANISH DVDs ® ASIAN-800 in stock Hunter Video Distributors, Inc. KARATE DVDs CO M P U T E R S O F T WA R E 718-326-5400 STOR E F IX TU R E S I NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC FORMS ENTERTAINMENT GROUP National Geographic Global Media has formed National Geographic Entertainment, a unit combining the company’s film, home entertainment, music and radio divisions. David Beal has been tapped as president of the unit. BRIEFS U S E D TA P E S & D V D S I VANGUARD TO BOW FIRST HD DVD Vanguard Cinema plans to release its first HD DVD in January. Channels, which will street Jan. 22 at $29.95, follows a Hollywood movie producer whose late-night channel surfing one day becomes more than recreation when a character from a soap opera magically appears in his room. The film stars Ed Asner, Jim Oja and Nat Christian. — Chris Tribbey Number Slevin, the “Saw” films, Apocalypto, We Were Soldiers, Scary Movie and others. HD VMD is based on red-laser technology. — Chris Tribbey Retail, Rental, and Game Trading Software for Video / Game Stores. I L.A., N.Y. TOP HDTV HOUSEHOLDS With mandatory conversion of over-the-air television broadcasts from analog to digital a little more than a year away, 14% of U.S. households have an HDTV, according to Nielsen Media Research. Los Angeles, the No. 2 TV market, ranked first with 20.4% HD-capable homes, followed by Washington, D.C., with 19.4%. No. 1 TV market New York had 18.1%. Los Angeles and New York switched positions among households receiving HD, with the Big Apple at 17.5%, Los Angeles at 17.1% and Washington, D.C., at 16.8%. — Erik Gruenwedel CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MAKES DOLLARS AND SENSE! I THIRD HD FORMAT IN ICELAND New Medium Enterprises Inc., which has developed a third high-def format (Versatile Multilayer Disc), has reached an agreement with two independent film distributors, SENA and Myndform, to distribute titles on the format in Iceland. New Medium will bundle five titles with its 1080p HD VMD player, including Lucky TAKE 1 WORKS! • Rentrak • Free Demo • FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Kurt Wohlman (714) 338-6749 kwohlman@questex.com www.homemediamagazine.com (800)454-4434 E-Mail: sales@selbysoft.com Home Media Magazine November 4–10, 2007 http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://www.corporate.com http://www.corporate.com http://www.rapidrental.com http://www.jdprinc.com http://www.jdprinc.com http://www.rapidrental.com http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://www.homemediamagazine.com

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Home Media Magazine - November 4-10, 2007 Contents News In Focus News News TV DVD Indie Film Reviews Pipeline Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced

Home Media Magazine - November 4-10, 2007

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