Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 - (Page 1) JANUARY 19–25, 2009 >> HIGH-DEF PS3 in 3rd for December By Stephanie Prange GAMES Sony Corp.’s PlayStation 3, which includes a Blu-ray Disc player, came in third in the next-generation console sales sweepstakes in December. The system sold about half as much (728,000 units) as Microsoft Corp.’s lower-priced Xbox 360 (1.44 million units), according to U.S. data from The NPD Group. The popular, low-priced Wii sold 2.15 million units in December, while the Nintendo DS sold even more units (3.04 million) for the month. “The NDS captures the top-spot for hardware sales this month, marking the first time that any hardware system has sold in excess of 3 million units in any single month,” said NPD analyst Anita Frazier. See PS3, Page 22 INSIDE >> Opposition to TV Delay CEA and FCC are against delaying the digital switch. >> New Player Amex Digital will bow a BD player. PAGE 6 w w w.HomeMediaMagazine.com >> ELEC TRONIC DELIVERY DIGITAL REALM INSIDE >> Viacom Vids Hit PS Network MTV Networks TV joins the lineup. >> Input Sought on Cablevision Department of Justice input is requested on the suit against Cablevision DVRs. PAGE 8 BLOCKBUSTER EXPANDS ITS By Erik Gruenwedel lockbuster Inc. Jan. 14 said it created an alliance with Sonic Solutions aimed at distributing its movie, video games and TV content across multiple digital channels, including home and portable electronic devices. The Dallas-based No. 1 DVD rental service is collaborating with Sonic, which includes the Roxio and CinemaNow brands, and its digital media software applications for a variety of CE devices such as Web-enabled Blu-ray Disc players, digital video recorders Circuit City Is Up for Auction By Erik Gruenwedel RETAIL Bankrupt Circuit City Stores last week accepted auction bids for myriad assets despite ongoing negotiations with two buyers entering the weekend. Wal-Mart reportedly was among six bidders interested in the Richmond, Va.-based chain’s assets, which included inventory, Web operations, leases, property and the inhome Firedog service, among other items. Circuit City’s revolving line of credit was set to expire Jan. 16. The two-day bidding process, disclosed in a filing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Richmond, began as the No. 2 consumer electronics retailer said it was considering thirdparty acquisition offers in addition to financing alternatives. “We’re optimistic and hopeful,” CFO Bruce Besanko told The Associated Press. Tom Arnold, professor of finance B at the University of Richmond and longtime observer of Circuit City’s operations, said he believed the potential buyers to be former Hollywood Video co-founder and CEO Mark Wattles with private equity backing and Mexican billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego. See CIRCUIT CITY, Page 20 MOVIE GALLERY LOST $38.9M IN Q1 By Erik Gruenwedel (DVRs), set-top boxes, mobile phones and connected TVs. High-definition TVs connected wirelessly to the Internet were a common theme at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Additionally the two companies will make their digital libraries of studio content available under the Blockbuster brand for both video-on-demand (VOD) and electronic See BLOCKBUSTER, Page 22 Movie Gallery Inc. reported a net loss of $38.9 million on revenue of $555 million for the period from Jan. 6, 2008 to April 6, 2008 — the last quarterly period before it emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection May 20, according to a Jan. 8, 2009 filing. The Wilsonville, Ore.-based No. 2 DVD rental chain, which includes Hollywood Video, reported a net loss of $14.8 million See GALLERY, Page 22 RETAIL SAG Rep Lasts, But Strike Unlikely By Erik Gruenwedel fforts within the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) to oust its chief negotiator, Doug Allen, from further contract talks with the studios failed when the national board Jan. 13 declined to take “substantive actions” following a 30-hour meeting. A coalition of guild members had drafted a resolution calling for the termination of Allen, dissolution of the negotiating committee and rescinding a proposed strike authoriza- Home A R C H Media RESE MAR KET S HAR E 13% as of 1/11/09 I Blu-ray I DVD E tion vote. The group, backed by actors Tom Hanks and George Clooney, among others, had sought to prevent the first actors strike in more than 20 years and restart labor talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents the studios and TV networks. Allen and SAG president Alan Rosenberg had said they planned this week to mail ballots to the guild’s 120,000 members to seek strike See SAG, Page 22 Consumers spent $110.78 million on DVDs for the week Blu-ray vs. DVD Sales* Consumers spent $18.71 million on Blu-ray Discs for the week Down 16.6% from the previous week. * Top 20 unit volume 87% Down 23.1% from the previous week. Source: Home Media Research NEWS Best Buy joins many retailers in posting a drop in same-store sales over the holidays, with entertainment software down. RESEARCH Sony Pictures’ Pineapple Express sped to the top of the DVD sales, rental and Blu-ray Disc sales charts. Page 4 Page 16 http://www.HomeMediaMagazine.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 Contents News News News News Commentary Reviews Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 - Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 (Page 1) Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 - Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 (Page 2) Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 - Contents (Page 3) Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 - News (Page 4) Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 - News (Page 5) Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 - News (Page 6) Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 - News (Page 7) Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 - News (Page 8) Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 - News (Page 9) Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 - Commentary (Page 10) Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 - Commentary (Page 11) Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 - Reviews (Page 12) Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 - Reviews (Page 13) Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 - Reviews (Page 14) Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 - Reviews (Page 15) Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 - Top 20 DVD Sellers (Page 16) Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 - Top 20 DVD Sellers (Page 17) Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 18) Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 19) Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 - Just Announced (Page 20) Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 - Just Announced (Page 21) Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 - Just Announced (Page 22) Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 - Just Announced (Page 23) Home Media Magazine - January 19-25, 2009 - Just Announced (Page 24)
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