Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - (Page 24) NEWS Studios Create Extravagant Boxed Sets for the Holidays Continued from page 1 www.homemediamagazine.com I More Sets A guide to newly available and upcoming boxed sets with standout packaging. I Mystery Science Theater 3000: 20th Anniversary Edition – Available Now, from Shout! Factory I Hellboy II: The Golden Army (Collector’s Set) – Available Now, from Universal I The Sopranos: The Complete Series – Available Now, From HBO Home Entertainment I Charmed: The Complete Series, Available Now, from Paramount/CBS I Star Trek: The Original Series (Remastered) – Available Now, from Paramount/CBS I The Complete Monty Python’s Flying Circus: Collectors Edition Megaset – Available Now, from A&E I Freaks & Geeks: Yearbook Edition – Available Now, from Shout! Factory I Pink Panther Ultimate Collection – Available Now, from Fox/MGM I Casablanca: Ultimate Collector’s Edition – Due Dec. 2, from Warner Home Video I The Wire: The Complete Series – Due Dec. 9, from HBO Home Entertainment I Sex and the City: The Wedding Collection Ultimate Collectors Edition – Due Dec. 9, from Warner Home Video I I Am Legend: Ultimate Collector’s Edition – Due Dec. 9, from Warner Home Video footage and extended theatrical versions of some of the films, and is housed in a horizontal box the length of two DVD packages, with the same height as other DVDs. However, the set also eschews plastic DVD trays, cutting out costs and environmentally unfriendly packaging. “When we know we have a core consumer fan base and can speak directly to them, we want to give that consumer a higher perceived value,” Markell said. “Shelf space is always something we keep in mind when designing any package, especially gift sets. We need to continue to break through the clutter and present the consumer with something unique; something they must own; something they feel good about purchasing.” Many bigger releases this holiday season carry that added value — even if it’s one of the biggest movies of all time. The Dark Knight is coming to Blu-ray Disc from Warner Home Video in a two-disc collector’s edition boxed set, with a replica batpod ($64.99, due Dec. 9, along with standard DVD and Blu-ray versions). “Retailers have not pushed back [on extravagant boxed sets]; they’re very supportive of it,” said Jeff Baker, EVP and GM of theatrical catalog for Warner, which continues to release premium Ultimate Collector’s Editions, such as the Nov. 11 three-DVD JFK: Ultimate Collector’s Edition. “They see a high margin in them, and there is a big consumer demand as well.” For fan favorites and cult titles, consumers will shell out extra money for a set that presents the material in the best possible light, according to studio executives. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment’s I Dream of Jeannie: The Complete Series, for example, comes in a cleverly designed bottle shape to hold its 10 discs, which is in turn stored in a clear box that sits comfortably on a store shelf. Anchor Bay Entertainment’s Heathers Limited Edition Box Set (Nov. 18, $89.97) comes in a locker made of metal, with a T-shirt, yearbook, a replica of an algebra book from the movie (which houses the T-shirt) and a magnet, in addition to both the Blu-ray Disc and 20th anniversary DVD of the teen black comedy; the studio’s Masters of Horror: Season Two set comes in a skull. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment’s recent ultimate collector’s edition of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas came in a bust of the film’s Jack Skellington, which plays sound bites from the film — and carries a price tag of $179.99. “Our goal would always be to size it so it fits in existing shelving,” said Gordon Prend, SVP of worldwide marketing for Anchor Bay Entertainment. “In general, retailers love it because it’s a higher margin for them, and it allows us to repromote catalog in a special new way. And it makes hardcore fans happy because they are collectors. …. These guys want this stuff.” For Anchor Bay’s six-disc Halloween: 30th Anniversary Commemorative Set, the studio included 1978’s Halloween on DVD and Blu-ray, an extended cut on DVD, a documentary disc, and Halloween 4 and 5, with a scary Michael Myers mask staring through the front of the box. The mask fits inside the proportions of a regular DVD boxed set, and the entire box takes up the size of about five regular DVD Amarays stacked together. “Retailers like it to fit normal sizing, but a premium piece needs to be compelling and unique,” Prend said. “Having this Halloween mask stare at you will catch your attention.” The 11 Academy Award winners in Sony Pictures Home Entertainment’s Columbia Best Pictures Collection ($135.95) come in a classy set that looks like an encyclopedia, albeit one that only is as wide as about three DVD Amarays. CLASSIFIED SHOWCASE BUSINESS SERVICES PA C K A G I N G USED TAPES & DVDS CO M P U T E R S O F T WA R E REDUCING YOUR INVENTORY? We Buy VHS, and also DVD & Video Games xtreme deo E 733-7370 (203) Vi lle said encasing a lesser-known title in an O-card makes it stand out. Image released The Legend of Sasquatch, a direct-to-video family title, with furry outer packaging, for example, while other children’s titles carry toys, such as Lionsgate’s Little Tikes Land, with a toy car, and Paramount Home Entertainment and Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer: Singing Sensation, which comes with an inflatable microphone. Anchor Bay uses Cutting costs and size O-cards on several of its titles, such as Dead Space: Elsewhere studios are judicious with their Downfall and Flashbacks of a Fool, while First Look packaging. Recently released complete-series Studios’ rerelease of Paris Je T’Aime comes in an sets of “NewsRadio,” “Good Times” and Amaray-sized steel book. “Sanford & Son,” all from Sony Pictures, have been released in smaller boxed sets with Green vs. cost all discs stacked in a spindle. Still, some have When it comes to the question of environcomplained of such measures. TVShowsOn- mentally friendly packing, is greener more DVD.com’s Gord Lacey wrote an editorial expensive, or less? According to studio reprecomplaining about the cost-cutting packag- sentatives, that depends on what you mean by ing. And Michael Burroughs, a consumer green, and even then, it can go either way. reviewer from Lincoln, Neb., on Amazon.com “If you’re doing a very specialized green said he was overjoyed to see a complete set of packaging, it absolutely can cost more,” De“NewsRadio” being produced but was disap- Mille said. “But we’ve been taking steps topointed with the result. ward that by using recycled board and things “I wish I had collected ‘NewsRadio’ season like that where it can fit in a traditional manuby season as I did with ‘M*A*S*H’ and other facturing process.” great shows,” Burroughs said. “The all-in-one Indeed, the trend toward green seems inpackage basically took all the discs from the five exorably tied to the desire of retailers to have season packages and put them in a stack, one smaller sets to fit on store shelves. on top of the other, without so much as a piece “I think the costs are about the same by the of film between.” time you add it all up,” DeMille said in regards Some say there is pressure from retailers to to thinner and greener packaging. “But it’s go thinner. definitely greener to have thinner sets because “We’re hearing that most retailers now want you’re able to ship more in a box, so you’re thin packs when it comes to boxed sets,” said shipping fewer cartons in order to get product Steven DeMille, SVP of marketing at Image on the shelves. It’s especially important with Entertainment. radical fuel prices. Still, thin doesn’t have to mean boring. Even “The smaller the sets, the better off we all are. for some smaller titles, flashy packaging en- That seems to be a trend across the board I think. hances sales appeal, executives said. DeMi- All of the retailers are asking for that.” Home Media Magazine November 30–December 6, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://www.corporate.com http://www.DVD.com http://www.Amazon.com http://www.rapidrental.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 Contents News Reviews Pipeline Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 (Page Cover1) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 (Page Cover2) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 (Page 1) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 (Page 2) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 (Page 3) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 (Page 4) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 (Page 5) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 (Page 6) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - Contents (Page 7) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - News (Page 8) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - News (Page 9) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - News (Page 10) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - News (Page 11) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - News (Page 12) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - News (Page 13) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - News (Page 14) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - News (Page 15) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - Reviews (Page 16) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - Reviews (Page 17) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - Reviews (Page 18) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - Reviews (Page 19) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - Reviews (Page 20) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - Reviews (Page 21) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - Pipeline (Page 22) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - Pipeline (Page 23) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - Pipeline (Page 24) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - Pipeline (Page 25) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - Top 20 DVD Sellers (Page 26) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - Top 20 DVD Sellers (Page 27) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 28) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 29) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 30) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 31) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 32) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - Just Announced (Page Cover3) Home Media Magazine - November 30 - December 6, 2008 - Just Announced (Page Cover4)
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