Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - (Page 20) NEWS SAG Delays Strike Authorization Ballots By Erik Gruenwedel iting a large number of actors opposed to a proposed strike, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) is postponing until Jan. 12 mailing ballots to its 120,000 members seeking authorization for a strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). SAG earlier this month said it would seek authorization Jan. 2 from union members for a strike. If 75% of the membership approve a strike, the union’s national board could authorize Hollywood actors’ first major work stoppage since 1980. Doug Allen, national executive director and chief negotiator for SAG, and guild president Allen Rosenberg said they will hold a special face-to-face national board meeting in Los Angeles the week of Jan. 12 to discuss the “unfortunate” division among members and how to restore the consensus. www.homemediamagazine.com B RIEFS I MYSPACE GIVES MEMBERS CHANCE TO INTERVIEW ‘NIP/TUCK’ STARS MySpace is giving its users the chance to interview the plastic surgeons of FX’s “Nip/Tuck,” actors Dylan Walsh and Julian McMahon. The final interview will be featured on the social networking site. Details can be found at MySpace’s TV hub, The Channel, at www.myspace.com/the-channel. To enter, users upload a short video describing why they should win. The deadline for submissions is Jan. 7, with the winner announced Jan. 23. New episodes of “Nip/Tuck” begin Jan. 6 on the FX cable network. — Billy Gil “This division does not help our effort to get an agreement from the AMPTP that our members will ratify,” Allen said in a statement to guild members. Actors are seeking greater compensation from Internet distribution, in addition to revamping the 20-year-old home video residual agreement. The agreement originally applied to VHS, but DVD and Blu-ray Disc have made potential residuals a more lucrative prospect. In addition to increased minimums, pension and health care provisions, the new contract presented by the AMPTP offers jurisdiction on new-media programs, in addition to first-ever residuals on ad-supported streams of movies, TV shows, permanent downloads (burn-to-disc), original and derivative newmedia programs. The AMPTP said it was “proud” of the contracts made with other entertainment guilds, including writers, directors and daytime actors. rays in November, an increase of 165% from the previous month, according to the BVA. The Dark Knight sold more than 510,000 total units, with Bluray accounting for 21% of all discs sold. In total more than 6.5 million Blu-ray discs — including those used for games — have been sold in Europe in 2008, a yearover-year growth of 320%. Overall sales of players are expected to triple in 2009, according to Futuresource, with 2.5 million standalone units projected. — Chris Tribbey I ADULT DVD EMPIRE UPS VOD Adult DVD Empire, the largest rentailer of adult packaged media in the United States, completed an overhaul of its video-on-demand platform, including streamed clips, viewer recommendations and purchase options. Enticing users with screen shots featuring more than 24 million images from thousands of VOD titles, consumers can now download-to-own, stream and pay-per-minute on a PC or Mac. — Erik Gruenwedel I BRITISH VIDEO ASSOCIATION SAYS EURO BD SALES ARE STRONG Blu-ray Disc and player sales in Europe are surprisingly strong, despite worldwide financial gloom, according to the British Video Association (BVA) and research firm Futuresource. British consumers bought more than 460,000 Blu- FRY’S ELECTRONICS VP ARRESTED FOR EMBEZZLEMENT By Erik Gruenwedel VP of merchandising and operations with Fry’s Electronics was arrested last week by federal authorities on charges he allegedly embezzled more than $65 million from the San Jose, Calif.-based CE chain in an elaborate scheme involving secret kickbacks from vendors. In the complaint filed Dec. 18 by the Internal Revenue Service with the U.S. District Court in San Jose, Calif., Ausaf Umar Siddiqui allegedly devised secret deals with five vendors that involved purchasing excessive amounts of merchandise above market rates in return for kickbacks ranging from 15% to 31% of the total order. Typically, CE vendors pay third-party sales representatives commissions from 3% to 8% of the total business secured with a retailer such as Fry’s. Siddiqui convinced Fry’s executives to bypass outside sales representatives and allow him to deal directly with vendors to purchase product at a lower price, according to the complaint. The VP awarded sales contracts to vendors involved in the kickback scheme. He received the kickbacks via funds channeled through a fraudulent shell company. Vendors cited in the complaint include Phoebe Micro Inc., Lead Data International Inc., U.S. Media Technologies Inc., and Elitegroup Computer Systems Inc. Privately held Fry’s was not named in the complaint. If convicted, Siddiqui faces 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. RIAA Following Film Industry’s Lead Continued from page 6 CLASSIFIED SHOWCASE BUSINESS SERVICES PA C K A G I N G establish standards for P2P file-sharing services, praised the “end to the mass litigation campaign against consumers.” “Neither the DCIA nor any of our member companies sanction copyright infringement, and we will continue to devote significant resources to technological solutions that address that problem,” Lafferty said in a statement. “Meanwhile, we encourage more licensing of distributed computing platforms for music delivery as the best currently available antidote.” The RIAA’s announcement came the same day media research firm NPD Group released statistics showing the number of CDs purchased in the third quarter of this year was down 19%, compared to the same period last year, while the number of music tracks shared on the Internet grew 23%. Legal, paid downloading rose 29%. The RIAA is now working with ISPs who will reportedly serve a warning to customers who engage in illegal file-sharing. Further violations would result in a slow-down in bandwidth availability, or possibly a shutdown in service altogether. Von Lohmann, however, was skeptical of the RIAA’s new tactic. “The end of the lawsuits is long overdue, but the apparent alternative is just as short-sighted,” he said. “The recording industry has been working with the ISPs for five years … what’s suddenly going to change? “It’s hopelessly naïve to believe file sharing will ever be stopped. The [RIAA] should instead legitimize what’s going to happen anyway.” In a separate move Dec. 22, social networking site MySpace agreed to stop allowing its users to post free music to their profiles using the Playlist.com music players. The RIAA and several music labels are suing the site for copyright infringement. Indie Distributor North American Motion Pictures Launches With Blu-ray Disc Offer USED TAPES & DVDS CO M P U T E R S O F T WA R E By Chris Tribbey new independent label is getting started with a retailer promotion. North American Motion Pictures, founded by Barry Barnholtz of Barnholtz Entertainment, will release and distribute its first title, Redemption, Feb. 10 at $26.99. To kick things off, a three-pack purchase of the film will net retailers a Blu-ray Disc as well. The Blu-ray will only be available via the promotional offer. After the Western Redemption, the horror film Dark Reel (March 10) and the Civil Warera Western Come Hell or High Water (March 31) are slated for DVD releases. Founded in 1996, and distributed by Lions- REDUCING YOUR INVENTORY? We Buy VHS, and also DVD & Video Games xtreme deo E 733-7370 (203) Vi gate for the past eight years, Barnholtz Entertainment’s library numbers nearly 200, and the indie said two titles hit No. 1 in Rentrak’s top non-theatrical DVDs: The Legend of Butch and Sundance and Ed Gein: Butcher of Plainfield. Barnholtz also co-founded Vidmark Entertainment in 1983, which went on to become Trimark Pictures. “We appreciate the expertise and commitment to our partnership shown by Steve Beeks and the Lionsgate team,” Barnholtz said. “However, as … DVD titles require ever more individualized attention to perform in the marketplace, the time is right to grow our company as a separate entity.” Home Media Magazine December 28, 2008–January 4, 2009 http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://www.myspace.com/the-channel http://www.Playlist.com http://www.corporate.com http://www.rapidrental.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 Contents News Gay & Lesbian Reviews TV DVD Pipeline Just Announced Hollywood Goes High Def Supplement Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - (Page Cover1) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - (Page Cover2) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Contents (Page 3) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Contents (Page 4) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Contents (Page 5) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - News (Page 6) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - News (Page 7) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - News (Page 8) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - News (Page 9) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - News (Page 10) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - News (Page 11) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - News (Page 12) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - News (Page 13) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Gay & Lesbian (Page 14) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Gay & Lesbian (Page 15) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Reviews (Page 16) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Reviews (Page 17) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - TV DVD (Page 18) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Pipeline (Page 19) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Pipeline (Page 20) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Pipeline (Page 21) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 22) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 23) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Just Announced (Page Cover4) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Just Announced (Page Tab1) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Just Announced (Page Tab2) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Hollywood Goes High Def Supplement (Page hghd1) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Hollywood Goes High Def Supplement (Page hghd2) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Hollywood Goes High Def Supplement (Page hghd3) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Hollywood Goes High Def Supplement (Page hghd4) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Hollywood Goes High Def Supplement (Page hghd5) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Hollywood Goes High Def Supplement (Page hghd6) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Hollywood Goes High Def Supplement (Page hghd7) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Hollywood Goes High Def Supplement (Page hghd8) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Hollywood Goes High Def Supplement (Page hghd9) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Hollywood Goes High Def Supplement (Page hghd10) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Hollywood Goes High Def Supplement (Page hghd11) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Hollywood Goes High Def Supplement (Page hghd12) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Hollywood Goes High Def Supplement (Page hghd13) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Hollywood Goes High Def Supplement (Page hghd14) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Hollywood Goes High Def Supplement (Page hghd15) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Hollywood Goes High Def Supplement (Page hghd16) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Hollywood Goes High Def Supplement (Page hghd17) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Hollywood Goes High Def Supplement (Page hghd18) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Hollywood Goes High Def Supplement (Page hghd19) Home Media Magazine - December 28, 2008 - Hollywood Goes High Def Supplement (Page hghd20)
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