Home Media Magazine - February 16-22, 2009 - (Page 22) NEWS By Chris Tribbey al-Mart stores and the retailer’s Web site will have special Twilight areas when the DVD is released March 21, and fans of the vampire flick can start pre-ordering their copy starting Feb. 12 at walmart.com/twilight, the company announced. The site showcases behind-thescenes footage of the film and interactive features for fans. All 3,500 brickand-mortar locations will have special Twilight areas with DVDs, CDs, the book series, apparel, messenger bags and totes, posters and more. www.homemediamagazine.com Wal-Mart Plans Big Promotion for ‘Twilight’ DVD (not Blu-ray) W of merchandising].” Several major retailers are expected to host midnight release parties for the film. Nickerson said the theatrical Web site for Twilight will change to a home video site by the end of February and will point Twilight fans to midnight release parties in their area. Best Buy and Target will have the Blu-ray Disc release exclusively before it’s available to all retailers May 5. “From the popularity we’ve already witnessed in books and music, we believe ‘Twilighters’ will be very excited about the items and values Wal-Mart will bring together in a new in-store and online experience,” said Greg Hall, VP of merchandising for Wal-Mart. “Obviously they’re really behind the release. They’re really behind the franchise. It’s unique for the industry,” said Steve Nickerson, president of Summit Home Entertainment. “This is kind of unusual for a DVD release. Most of the time you see this kind of thing done for a theatrical release [in terms ‘Twilight’ Exclusive at Borders Continued from page 8 Studios Up Superreleases Continued from page 8 Entertainment hasn’t budged. Walt Disney Home Entertainment has sold millions of movie downloads on Apple iTunes, many day-and-date with DVD. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group last year became the first major studio to initiate same day DVD/VOD releases for all significant titles. The studio has spearheaded ongoing tests with cable providers such as Comcast, Time Warner Cable and others, to determine if eliminating the window between DVD and VOD negatively impacted packaged-media from the global movie premiere in Los Angeles, including a never-before-seen segment that contains interviews with Kellan Lutz, Ashley Greene, Nikki Reed and rock band Paramore, who contributed to the movie’s soundtrack. Also included is a re-edited version of the Borders Book Club episode that features author Stephenie sellthrough. Warner, at the behest of Meyer discussing the phenomenon parent Time Warner Inc., pursued behind the “Twilight” saga. Other special features (also found on same day DVD/VOD releases as a means of increasing marginal rev- other releases) include the Linkin Park enue and circumventing rental. Last music video “Leave Out All the Rest,” year Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes five extended and deleted scenes with said electronic sellthrough titles generated from $13 to $14 per title in studio contribution, compared to about $10 for DVD. He said the return was even better with rental, where studio Continued from page 1 contribution ranged from $2.80 to $3 ended 2008 with 9.4 million subscribers. for electronic rental, compared to 75 Characterizing the 10 million mark as a cents to 80 cents for DVD rental. “symbolic but meaningful achievement,” “That’s a pretty good trade,” Bewkes CEO Reed Hastings attributed the surge of said. new subscribers to the company’s valueadd Instant Watch streaming service that delivers 12,000 titles free to broadband- director Catherine Hardwicke’s introductions, and the seven-part documentary The Adventure Begins: The Journey from Page to Screen. Finally, the set includes a ComicCon “fandom” piece, a NY Comic-Con sizzle reel and three trailers. “We’ve been with this series from the very beginning and share fans’ enthusiasm as we’ve watched it explode into a full-blown cultural phenomenon,” said Anne Kubek, EVP of merchandising and marketing with Borders. “To celebrate the release of the film on DVD, we wanted to go above and beyond to create something truly special that can’t be found anywhere else.” Borders isn’t the only book chain on the Twilight bandwagon. Book retailer Books-A-Million is offering a $50 coupon booklet with a pre-order of the Twilight special-edition DVD. The coupon book offers savings on more than 90 books from authors such as Anita Blake, Laurell K. Hamilton, P.C. Cast and Melissa de la Cruz. The store offers Twilight at $23.99, 27% off the retail price. Millionaire’s Club Card members pay $21.59. Fans can order at booksamillion.com/ twilight. Books-A-Million is the nation’s thirdlargest chain bookstore. John Latchem contributed to this report. Netflix Marks 10 Million Subs enabled TiVo set-top boxes, Microsoft Xbox 360, select LG and Samsung Blu-ray players, PCs and Intel-based Macs, and the Roku digital video player. “[We are] singularly focused on making movie enjoyment easy,” Hastings said. Netflix, which has increased its subscriber base 30% annually since launching in Blockbuster Has Games Continued from page 1 1999, expects to end the year with a base of 10.6 million to 11.3 million subscribers. “It’s an impressive metric, considering the economic environment,” said Edward Woo, research analyst with Wedbush Morgan Securities, which covers Netflix. “I don’t think Netflix will be slowed in the near term as they have lots of momentum, economically favorable products, and first mover/competitive advantage in digital streaming.” offering, with in-store exchange privileges, is a tremendous value and convenience,” said Bob Barr, named last month to the position of VP and GM of Blockbuster.com. The Blockbuster pilot program, which includes titles for Nintendo’s Wii, Sony’s PlayStation 2 and PS3, and Microsoft’s Xbox and Xbox 360, will be rolled out nationally later this year. Movie Gallery and Hollywood Video offer video game rentals in-store, including at its Game Crazy locations. Edward Woo, research analyst with Wedbush Morgan Securities, said game rentals historically represent 10% to 15% of total rental revenue for Blockbuster and Movie Gallery. Online DVD rental pioneer Netflix does not rent video games, a strategy spokesperson Steve Swasey said the service has no desire to change. “Netflix is a game-free company, Swasey said. “It is a whole different business model.” Netflix’s association with Xbox 360 affords it some respectability among gamers, said analyst Tom Adams of Adams Media Research. “It’s a smart move for [Blockbuster] to offer something of a counter to the Netflix/Xbox partnership,” he said. “It’s not a huge revenue opportunity but a good competitive move.” JUST ANNOUNCED A Weekly Product Update* TITLE STREET DATE PREBOOK BOX OFFICE (MILLIONS) GENRE PRICE Marley & Me 3/31 3/4 $140.6 Comedy DVD $29.98, BD $39.99 Redbox Continued from page 1 from other interest holders for $21.5 million to $24.9 million. McDonald’s has about a 44% stake in Redbox. “Redbox has been a great addition to our … product portfolio, and we are very enthusiastic about the DVD rental kiosk market having seen tremendous growth and acceptance over the past few years,” said Coinstar COO Paul Davis. Redbox CEO Gregg Kaplan added: “Redbox has a very positive and cooperative relationship with Coinstar, and we’re pleased with today’s announcement. The growth of the self-service DVD rental market continues to be brisk, and the combination of $1-per-night pricing and the extreme convenience offered by Redbox continues to be enthusiastically embraced by consumers.” Fox. 2008. Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, Eric Dane, Kathleen Turner, Alan Arkin. A young couple considering parenthood gets a puppy who turns out to be ill-behaved but lovable. A digital copy is included on both the Blu-ray and a two-DVD special edition ($34.98). Bolt 3/24 Now $113.1 Animated DVD $29.99, BD $39.99 Disney. 2008. Voices of John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Susie Essman, James Lipton. A Hollywood hero dog is accidentally shipped to New York City and must find his way home with the help of a few new friends. The Blu-ray Disc streets Sunday, March 22, before the standard DVD. Yes Man 4/7 2/24 $96.4 Comedy DVD $28.98, BD $35.99 Warner. 2008. Jim Carrey, Bradley Cooper, Zooey Deschanel. A man decides to shake up his dull life by saying yes to everything from bungee jumping to grabbing the first flight to anywhere. A digital copy is included on both the Blu-ray and a two-DVD special edition ($34.99). Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3/3 Now $94.5 Family DVD $29.99, BD $34.99 Disney. 2008. Jamie Lee Curtis, Piper Perabo. Voices of Drew Barrymore, George Lopez, Andy Garcia, Cheech Marin, Paul Rodriguez. A pampered pooch is misplaced in Mexico and embarks on a journey back to Beverly Hills. The Day the Earth Stood Still 4/7 3/11 $79 Sci-Fi DVD $29.98, BD $39.99 Fox. 2008. Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates, Jaden Smith, John Cleese, Jon Hamm. The arrival of an alien being on Earth starts a chain of events that threaten mankind. A woman and her young stepson are the only hope to save the world. Seven Pounds 3/31 2/26 $70 Drama DVD $28.96, BD $39.95 DATE CHANGE. Sony Pictures. 2008. Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson. A man with a fateful secret seeks redemption through bettering the lives of seven strangers. Also available on UMD at $24.94. A digital copy is exclusive to the Blu-ray Disc. * In order of box office, then prebook date Home Media Magazine February 16–22, 2009 http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://www.walmart.com/twilight http://www.booksamillion.com/twilight http://www.booksamillion.com/twilight http://www.Blockbuster.com
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