Home Media Magazine - December 9, 2007 - (Page 3) DECEMBER 9–15, 2007 >> ELECTRO N IC DELIVERY INSIDE Brookstone Has Vongo Offer The retailer offers its tech-savvy consumer base a free trial to Starz’s Vongo movie service with purchase. MySpace Gets Exclusive Music The social networking site launches MySpace Transmissions, in which artists can create exclusive video and music content for the site. ‘South Park’ Goes Online Episodes will appear free on the Web. BRINGING DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT TO YOU PAGE 13 >> HIGH-DEF High-Def 2.0: No Resolution Conference shows consumers are in a holding pattern on format war By Chris Tribbey he format war took a back seat to high-definition media in general at High Def 2.0. The second annual conference, produced by Home Media Magazine, in cooperation with The Hollywood Reporter and the Entertainment Merchants Association, to advance the cause of next-generation packaged media, was held at the Hyatt INSIDE Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles Dec. 4. >> ‘300’ Wins While a majority of pan- The Warner title is elists represented com- named High-Def panies producing Blu-ray Title of the Year. Disc software and hard- >> HD Shots ware, and representatives See pictures from of HD DVD chose not to the conference. appear for the panels and PAGE 10 awards show, research and opinions from stu- >> Blu Connects dio, consumer electronic Lionsgate slates and media representa- networked titles. tives offered a view of PAGE 12 the high-def world as a whole. “We spend too much time attacking the blue and the red,” said Home Media Magazine publisher Thomas K. Arnold, during opening remarks. “While the consumer doesn’t know enough to care.” Helen Davis Jayalath, senior analyst for Screen Digest, offered global and U.S. statistics that backed that statement: High-def spending will barely register compared to See RESEARCH, Page 40 Trans World CEO a Step Closer to Buy By Erik Gruenwedel RETAIL CEO Robert Higgins’ desire to acquire all outstanding shares of common stock and take Trans World Entertainment private took another step with the formation of an LLC. Higgins and investor Bryant Riley last month formed a nonbinding limited liability company (LLC) backed by 12 million shares of Trans World common stock from Higgins and a minimum 3.5 million shares from Riley, according to a regulatory filing. Riley, who is based in Santa Monica, Calif., would not contribute more than 5.5 million shares of common stock. Dubbed by Higgins as Higgins “the last standing entertainment retail chain,” Albany, N.Y.-based Trans World operates more than 950 stores, primarily under the F.Y.E. (For Your Entertainment), Suncoast and Second Spin brands. Higgins, who founded Trans World in 1972, Nov. 9 submitted a nonbinding bid to the board that involved purchasing about 31 million outstanding shares for $150 million in cash. Trans World has established a special committee to review the bid, which already one investor has called “grossly inadequate.” Analysts say returning to privately held status would eliminate accounting, administrative and legal costs associated with being public. According to the filing, Riley can opt out of the deal at any time, and Higgins can pursue acquisition plans separately. The company lost $14.3 million in the third quarter (ended Nov. 3). T Fox’s Simon Swart (left) and Disney’s Lori MacPherson at High Def. 2.0 Photo: Cara Garcia Studios: Slow and Steady Wins Race By Erik Gruenwedel and Chris Tribbey SUPPLIER A studio panel said adoption of high-definition packaged media remains on track, despite acknowledging the miscommunication between studios and consumer electronics manufacturers. The panel was part of High-Def 2.0 Dec. 4 in Los Angeles. Home Media Magazine produced the conference in cooperation with The Hollywood Reporter and the Entertainment Merchants Association. Don Eklund, EVP, advanced technologies, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, said See HD 2.0, Page 40 H IG H-DE F MAR KET S HAR E Blu-ray and HD DVD Sales Comparison as of 12/2/07 Week Ended 12/2 Year-to-Date I Blu-ray I HD DVD Since Inception 42% 58% 65% 35% 62% 38% Source: Nielsen VideoScan: First Alert data NEWS Lionsgate announces it’s now the sole U.S. distributor for “Bratz” DVDs, including five titles previously distributed by Fox. PRODUCT Ziggy Marley discusses the Bob Marley tribute concert DVD Africa Unite in our Black History Month guide. RESEARCH Fox’s Live Free or Die Hard proves deathless on DVD, taking the top spots on the national DVD sales and rental charts. Page 8 Page 18 Page 34
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