Home Media Magazine - December 30, 2007 - January 5, 2007 - (Page 1)

Ho lly PA CK w DECEMBER 30, 2007–JANUARY 5, 2008 ‘Home Media Magazine’ Launches Screening Room d By John Latchem ome Media Magazine has launched a new Screening Room feature, giving visitors to HomeMediaMagazine.com access to movie trailers and original video content. “The ability to offer streaming video is a natural fit for us,” said Thomas K. Arnold, publisher of Home Media. “As the leading trade publication for the home entertainment industry, we’re always looking for new ways to bring content to our readers and promote upcoming titles and events.” The new Home Media Screening Room, H BRINGING DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT TO YOU PREVIEW powered by broadband specialist FeedRoom.com, is available through Home Media’s Web site via a video box. Visitors can click “Play” to view a selection of trailers for upcoming home video releases, as well as highlights from industry gatherings such as recent home video symposiums and conferences, red carpet arrivals and other events. Visitors also can access the main Screening Room page, HomeMedia.FeedRoom.com, directly or through a link on the home page video box. oo AG ED IN SI DE : Go es Hi gh -D ef >> ELECTRO N IC DELIVERY Analysts: Format Frustration at CES By Erik Gruenwedel t holiday gatherings, hearsay about Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD frequented banter with predictable results. Rory Willits of Mission Viejo, Calif., was leaning toward Blu-ray because of the availability of Disney titles for his kids. “I’m going to wait and see what happens,” Willits said. Atlanta-based Brian Donnelly didn’t hesitate and purchased “Planet Earth” on HD DVD so his kids could watch it on their uncle’s flat-screen television in Tustin, Calif. “He’s got [HDTV], it will work,” he said. Of course, having an HDTV is only half the prerequisite. Two dissatisfied consumers Fox Reportedly Eyes iPod Movie Rentals By Erik Gruenwedel pple Inc. and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment are reportedly about to announce a deal that would let consumers rent Fox movie downloads from the iTunes Store. Prices and specifics of such a deal were not disclosed, according to reports in The Financial Times of London and The Wall Street Journal. INSIDE >> Web Video Still Slow Online video is 1% of the market. >> Cablers to Offer More HD HD may help with decline in subs. PAGE 12 A leave little retail impact. A similar scenario could beckon at the 2008 International CES in Las Vegas, say analysts well-versed in the show that is the See CES, Page 34 A WEB RUMORS By Chris Tribbey n Dec. 10, high-def Web site forums were on fire with the “news”: Warner Bros. was ditching HD DVD. The only major dual-format studio would make the announcement at the International Consumer Electronics Show See ONLINE, Page 34 O Fox declined comment. Apple was not available by press time. Michael Pachter, media analyst with Wedbush Morgan Securities, said the deal wouldn’t be significant to the traditional rental industry. He said typical iPod consumption is for mobile consumers whom he said would likely not attempt to download and watch a movie on their living room TV. Movie Gallery Plans Early 2008 Bankruptcy Exit By Erik Gruenwedel ovie Gallery Inc. believes it can surface from bankruptcy as early as the second quarter of 2008, according to a financial reorganization plan filed Dec. 22. Gallery’s new fiscal strategy before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Eastern District of Virginia is based on a previously announced plan that is backed in large part by private equity firm Sopris Capital Advisors LLC. A court hearing on the plan is set for Jan. 29. Sopris holds a substantial amount of Gallery’s senior notes (bonds), in addition to about $72 million of the Dothan, Ala.-based No. 2 movie rental company’s $175 million in second-lien debt. Under terms of the plan, Sopris’ $72 million >> HIGH-DEF H IG H-DE F MAR KET S HAR E Blu-ray and HD DVD Sales Comparison as of 12/16/07 Week Ended 12/16 Year-to-Date INSIDE I Blu-ray I HD DVD M would be converted into equity in the newly reorganized Gallery. The lender also would commit $50 million in equity rights to holders of Gallery’s senior debt. See GALLERY, Page 30 Since Inception 39% 61% 65% 35% 62% 38% BTP LOOKS TO ACQUIRE ‘CHEAPER’ IMAGE ENT. By Erik Gruenwedel Source: Nielsen VideoScan: First Alert data I Better Blu for PS3 A firmware update allows for picturein-picture and dual-audio features. Player Prices Drop Blu-ray player prices drop below PS3 prices, while the HD-A3 is discounted. PAGE 10 mage Entertainment Inc.’s protracted acquisition by BTP Acquisition Co. LLC appears to have achieved an unintended or intended consequence, depending on which side of the equation you’re on. In a Dec. 21 regulatory filing, BTP said it might undertake acquiring shares of Chatsworth, Calif.-based Image on the open market rather than paying the See IMAGE, Page 32 RESEARCH Holiday shoppers snatched up Fox’s The Simpsons Movie, which topped both the sales and rental charts for the week. NEWS Former Blockbuster exec Matthew Smith signs on as president of Genius Products, reporting to CEO Trevor Drinkwater (pictured). Page 26 Page 34 zine.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Home Media Magazine - December 30, 2007 - January 5, 2007

Contents News Commentary TV DVD Reviews Pipeline Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced Hollywood Goes High-Def

Home Media Magazine - December 30, 2007 - January 5, 2007

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