Home Media Magazine - December 30, 2007 - January 5, 2007 - (Page HD5)

from the editor Decision Time www.homemediamagazine.com PUBLISHER & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Thomas K. Arnold EDITOR IN CHIEF Stephanie Prange EDITORIAL Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Angelique Flores Senior Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Erik Gruenwedel Senior Reporter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Tribbey Assistant Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Latchem Associate Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Billy Gil, Kyra Kudick Contributor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ralph Tribbey ART Art Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Melbert Sebayan Graphic Designer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charles Park RESEARCH Market Research Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kelly Burner ADVERTISING 800/338-6700, FAX 714/338-6712 Advertising Sales Representative . . . . . . . . . . . . John Boezinger 714/338-6704 Advertising Sales Representative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Julie Savant 714/368-1020 Advertising Sales Representative . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kurt Wohlman 714/338-6749 Group Administrative Coordinator. . . . . . . . . . Jennifer Guerena Business Analyst . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joni Wu For reprints, call 800-290-5460, ext. 100 or HomeMediaMagazine@reprintbuyer. com For direct-mail lists, call Ilene Schwartz, Kroll Direct, 216/371-1667 FAX 216/371-1669 ilene@krolldirect.com PRODUCTION Production Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bonnie Ling Production Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Justin-Nicholas Toyama 714/338-6765 Assistant Production Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brady Gallardo OFFICES 714/338-6700, 800/371-6897, FAX 714/338-6710 homemediamagazine@questex.com 201 East Sandpointe Ave., Suite 500 Santa Ana, CA 92707-8716 ne of the first questions people ask me when they hear that I work in the home entertainment industry is, “Which high-def format should I buy?” I don’t think folks a few months ago knew the difference between 1080p, 720p and 1080i, much less Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD. But now the public is more aware of the different resolutions available on their HDTVs, as evidenced by the move to purchase more 1080p higher-resolution sets. They also are coming around to understanding high-definition content — what with the digital broadcast deadline looming in February 2009 — and may be getting closer to making a decision about which high-def disc format to select. But the format war is bringing them to a sudden halt in choosing a side (especially for those who remember the grand battle between Betamax and VHS in the early days of video). “There is growing concern throughout the industry that both highdefinition disc formats could be lost completely in a world of competing delivery options and viewing platforms,” Jim Bottoms, analyst at Understanding and Solutions, said in September. “Whatever happens, continued competition between the two groups will lead to continuing confusion and uncertainty, and therefore delayed consumer-purchase decisions.” This confused consumer is what is calling the hand of the only remaining studio supporting both formats, the mighty Warner. If Warner decides to switch from supporting both to supporting only one format, the high-def format playing field could change considerably. In fact, the format war could essentially be over. As they say, content is king, and at the moment Warner can change the content equation markedly by choosing sides. Any of the other studios could also affect the outcome by switching sides. The game has been afoot for some time, but now the mystery of who will win the format war is coming to a head. O Stephanie Prange Editor in Chief CIRCULATION For subscriptions, please go online to www.homemediamagazine.com For current single copy, back issues or CD-ROM, call 866/344-1315 or 615/377-3322 for outside the U.S. Audience Development Manager. . . . . . . . . . . Sarah Joy Obaña I N THIS ISSUE BUSINESS QUESTEX MEDIA GROUP INC. President & CEO: Kerry C. Gumas; Executive Vice President & CFO: Tom Caridi; Executive Vice President: Robert S. Ingraham; Executive Vice President: Tony D’Avino; Executive Vice President, Corporate Development: Claudia Flowers; Vice President & General Manager: Don Rosenberg; Vice President, Digital Media: Seth Nichols; Vice President, Human Resources: Diane Evans © 2007/2008 Questex Media Group Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including by photocopy, recording or information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use, or the internal or personal use of specific clients, is granted by Questex Media Group, Inc. for libraries and other users registered with the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Dr., Danvers, MA 01923 phone: 978-750-8400 fax 978-750-4470; call for copying beyond that permitted by Sections 107 or 108 of the U.S. Copyright Law. For those not registered with the CCC, send permission request in writing to questexpermissions@reprintbuyer.com or call 800-494-9051 ext. 100. STUDIO PRESIDENTS LOOK AHEAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Studio chiefs talk about the uphill battle to bring high-definition packaged media to mass adoption. HIGH-DEF DATA TABLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 See how Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD titles rank in sales. Printed in the U.S.A. BLU-RAY DISC LISTINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Check out a select listing of what came out on Blu-ray Disc in Q4 and what’s coming up in 2008. HD DVD DISC LISTINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 See a select listing of HD DVDs in the marketplace since September and coming out in Q1 2008. Winter 2007/2008 HOLLYWOOD goes HIGH-DEF 5 http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://www.homemediamagazine.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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