Home Media Magazine - June 1-7, 2008 - (Page 10)

HIGH-DEF www.homemediamagazine.com DVD Kiosks to Offer Blu-ray Titles in June By Chris Tribbey VDPlay broke new ground last week, announcing it will offer Bluray Disc titles in its kiosks starting in June. “The focus of this strategic decision is to prepare for the long-term success and D N sustainability of the kiosk and ultimately give consumers what they want. We have an extremely adaptable product,” said DVDPlay CEO and chairman Chuck Berger. “Recognizing the mainstream adoption of Blu-ray and offering it to our customers is something we were able to turnaround quickly.” Maybe most important is that the rental cost for a Blu-ray will be the same as a DVD: $1.49. The first Blu-ray titles available will be from Sony Pictures, with Untraceable and Men in Black popping up first. FOX VISITS ‘NIM’S ISLAND’ By Chris Tribbey im’s Island, which pulled in more than $45 million in theaters, gets the deluxe Blu-ray Disc treatment from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Aug. 5. In addition to the special features appearing on the day-and-date DVD ($29.98) — three featurettes, deleted scenes and two commentaries — the Blu-ray will feature DTS HD audio, a picture-in-picture Bonus View mode with behind-the-scenes footage, and four interactive set-top games. The Blu-ray will be priced at $39.98. Report Says Blu-ray Sales Up in Japan By Kyra Kudick apanese research firm BCN Ltd. reported sales of Blu-ray recorders are increasing in Japan, according to Reuters. The BCN survey showed April Blu-ray sales in Japan were nearly three times the share for both highdef formats in January before HD DVD lost the format war, Reuters reported. BCN also found the more expensive Blu-ray recorders topped the previous generation recorders in the value of sales for the first time in April, with about onethird of the machines sold carrying the new format, according to Reuters. BCN further predicts Blu-ray sales will expand in the coming months as consumer electronics manufacturers cut prices in anticipation of the Beijing Olympics, Reuters reported. J ‘Tinker Bell’ Takes Flight Oct. 28 By John Latchem eter Pan’s sprite sidekick Tinker Bell finally gets a movie of her own this fall. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment debuts the new CG-animated movie Tinker Bell Oct. 28 (prebook Sept. 16) at $29.99 on DVD and $34.99 on Blu-ray Disc. For the first time in history, Tinker Bell will speak, with a voice provided by up-and-comer Mae Whitman. The ‘BEETLEJUICE’ CELEBRATES BLU 20TH By John Latchem T im Burton’s colorful ghost story Beetlejuice will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a new DVD and Blu-ray Disc. Warner Home Video Sept. 16 (prebook Aug. 12) releases Beetlejuice: 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition at $19.96 on DVD and $34.99 for Blu-ray. Extras include three episodes of the “Beetlejuice” cartoon series. The Bluray version also includes a soundtrack CD sampler and a collectible booklet. P cast also includes America Ferrera, Kristen Chenoweth, Lucy Liu, Raven-Symoné, Jesse McCartney and Anjelica Huston as the queen of Pixie Hollow, the secret hideaway deep in the heart of Never Land where the Disney Fairies make their home. The movie, the first of four films featuring the Disney Fairies, chronicles Tinker Bell’s early years as she learns to be confident in herself and her abilities. Tinker Bell is a production of DisneyToon Studios under the auspices of John Lasseter and Disney’s Pixar animation unit. Extras include a guide to Pixie Hollow; a DVD-ROM game; “Ever Wonder,” a featurette about how pixies add beauty to the natural world; a behind-the-scenes featurette; and deleted scenes. The Blu-ray version also contains interactive BD Live features, such as a “Tinker Trainer” game that gives players Movie Reward points. TOP 20 HIGH-DEF BLU-R AY D ISC Week ended May 25, 2008 LABEL INDEX TOP 20 HIGH-DEF B D M A R K E T S HA R E Percentage of Sales Per Title vs DVD Week ended May 25, 2008 LABEL PERCENT TITLE TITLE HIGH-DEF CO M I NG U P STREETING Disturbia Blu-ray Paramount/DreamWorks Street Date: 6/3 The Eye Blu-ray Lionsgate Street Date: 6/3 Meet the Spartans Blu-ray Fox Street Date: 6/3 Mission: Impossible 2 Blu-ray Paramount Street Date: 6/3 Semi-Pro Blu-ray New Line Street Date: 6/3 There Will Be Blood Blu-ray Paramount Street Date: 6/3 Weeds: Season 3 Blu-ray Lionsgate Street Date: 6/3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14(tie) 14(tie) 16 17 18 19 20 National Treasure: Book of Secrets National Treasure National Treasure Two-Pack The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion … V for Vendetta The Golden Compass Untraceable I Am Legend 300 Wrestlemania XXIV Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Twister Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Blade Runner: Complete Collector’s Edition Over America Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Planet Earth: The Complete Series The Patriot Short Circuit Disney Disney Disney Disney Warner New Line Sony Pictures Warner Warner Genius/WWE Warner Warner Warner Warner Warner Topics Warner BBC Video Sony Pictures Image 100.00 27.37 18.84 9.13 5.86 4.67 4.04 3.93 3.83 3.41 3.28 3.20 3.06 2.90 2.90 2.89 2.83 2.67 2.46 2.30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Over America* V for Vendetta Twister Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Blade Runner: Complete Collector’s Edition Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Short Circuit The Patriot Planet Earth: The Complete Series National Treasure 300 I Am Legend The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion … Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End The Golden Compass Wrestlemania XXIV Untraceable National Treasure: Book of Secrets *Exclusively available on Blu-ray Topics Warner Warner Warner Warner Warner Warner Warner Image Sony Pictures BBC Video Disney Warner Warner Disney Disney New Line Genius/WWE Sony Pictures Disney 100.00% 82.09% 70.36% 55.69% 53.50% 52.69% 52.44% 49.44% 36.32% 28.65% 27.86% 27.57% 18.24% 15.22% 14.56% 12.52% 11.79% 10.16% 7.01% 6.89% Source: Nielsen VideoScan First Alert data Source: Nielsen VideoScan First Alert data 10 Home Media Magazine June 1–7, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com

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Home Media Magazine - June 1-7, 2008 Contents News Gay/Lesbian Reviews TV DVD Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced

Home Media Magazine - June 1-7, 2008

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