Home Media Magazine - June 1-7, 2008 - (Page 3)

www.homemediamagazine.com MENU FROM THE EDITOR BY THOMAS K. ARNOLD, PUBLISHER www.homemediamagazine.com Blu-ray Pulls Up a Seat at the HD Table The only thing the studios are doing is taking their rightful hy is there so much negativity about Blu-ray Disc? seat at the HD table, and giving consumers the opportunity Skeptical analysts say player prices are too high for the format to gain mass acceptance, failing to note to purchase movies in true high-definition. No one’s forcing that hardware prices have dropped a lot faster than anyone an- anyone to buy Blu-ray — it’s merely a choice that owners of ticipated. They’re also overlooking the fact that CE manufactur- HDTVs may want to make if they want the highest possible ers have invested millions of dollars in Blu-ray technology and picture quality around. Don’t see the difference? Then don’t buy it. No one’s taking can’t be expected to give away the farm this early in the game. standard DVD away — in fact, there are still Other so-called experts say it’s all in vain anyway and the future lies with digital down- HAVE WE ALL FORGOTTEN far more catalog titles being reissued on DVD loading, even though electronic sellthrough THAT THE ROOT OF BLU-RAY as special editions, or debuting on DVD, than movie sales remain miniscule and, if any- DISC IS NOTHING MORE there are on Blu-ray. DVD is still the lifeblood thing, are trending downward (average movie SINISTER THAN THE REAL- of home entertainment, and most likely it will sales through Apple’s iTunes fell sharply last IZATION THAT CONSUMERS be for years to come. Blu-ray is a choice, an option, for consumers year, despite escalating hype). ARE BUYING HDTVS ? who want it. It’s a choice I made as soon as I got And then there are letters from consumers such as the one I received last week, blasting the studios for “forcing” a HDTV just before Christmas, and I’m glad I did. I’ve become consumers to transition, yet again, from one format to another, and a diehard Blu-ray fan to the point where I wouldn’t even watch the DVD of Cloverfield because I want my first taste of the film to calling me the “enemy of humanity” for talking up Blu-ray Disc. Whoa, everyone. Have we all forgotten that the root of Blu-ray be Blu-ray, and the Blu-ray version isn’t out yet. It’s important to note that Blu-ray isn’t a replacement technology. Disc, and high-definition packaged media in general, is nothing more sinister than the realization that consumers are buying It’s a superior product to standard DVD, custom made for HDTVs. HDTVs, that broadcasters and cablers are switching to high-def Thomas K. Arnold’s e-mail address is tarnold@questex.com programming, and standard DVD is not high-definition? PUBLISHER & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Thomas K. Arnold EDITOR IN CHIEF Stephanie Prange EDITORIAL Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Angelique Flores Senior Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Erik Gruenwedel Senior Reporter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Tribbey Assistant Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Latchem Associate Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Billy Gil, Kyra Kudick Contributors. . . . . . . . . John Gaudiosi, Anne Sherber, Fred Topel, Ralph Tribbey, Holly J. Wagner W ART Art Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Melbert Sebayan Graphic Designer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charles Park RESEARCH Market Research Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kelly Burner ADVERTISING 800/338-6700, FAX 714/338-6712 Advertising Sales Representative . . . . . . . . . . . . John Boezinger 714/338-6704 Advertising Sales Representative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Julie Savant 714/368-1020 Advertising Sales Representative . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kurt Wohlman 714/338-6749 Business Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joni Wu Group Administrative Coordinator. . . . . . . . . . Jennifer Guerena For reprints, call 800-290-5460, ext. 100 or HomeMediaMagazine@reprintbuyer. com For direct-mail lists, call Ilene Schwartz, Kroll Direct, 216/371-1667 FAX 216/371-1669 ilene@krolldirect.com MARKETING Marketing Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kristina Kronenberg 714/338-6743 Marketing Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kaitlyn DeWaard IN THIS ISSUE JUNE 1-7, 2008 / VOL. 30 / NO. 22 News …………………………… CALENDAR I SIXTH ANNUAL WINE & WISDOM The annual Entertainment AIDS Alliance (EAA) event benefits the UCLA AIDS Institute’s CARE Center. Admission is $25, due by June 6. June 12 Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles DIGITAL MEDIA Online Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Renee Rosado PRODUCTION Production Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bonnie Ling Production Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Justin-Nicholas Toyama 714/338-6765 Assistant Production Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brady Gallardo 6 8 >> HIGH- DEF OFFICES 714/338-6700, 800/371-6897, FAX 714/338-6710 homemediamagazine@questex.com 201 East Sandpointe Ave., Suite 500 Santa Ana, CA 92707-8716 A slew of box-office hits makes this summer’s DVD slate stronger and more consistent than that of the past two summers. News …………………………… Tinker Bell info: www.entertainmentaidsalliance.org Chris Tribbey, Senior Reporter 818-788-8616, FAX 818-530-2486 16130 Ventura Blvd. #570 Encino, CA 91436 Warner holds screenings of Dirty Harry and other films at the Cannes Film Festival; new retailer Gamer Doc aims to offer a specialized game retail experience. News ………………………… CREDIT Credit/Collections Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ron Wright Sr. CIRCULATION For subscriptions, please go online to www.homemediamagazine.com For current single copy, back issues or CD-ROM, call 866/344-1315 or 847/763-9594 for outside the U.S. Audience Development Manager. . . . . . . . . . . Sarah Joy Obaña DVDPlay offers Sony Pictures Blu-ray Discs in its kiosks; Blu-ray sales are up in Japan; Tinker Bell, Nim’s Island and Beetlejuice hit Blu-ray. I TRANSFORMATIONS: THE SEVENTH ANNUAL HOME ENTERTAINMENT SUMMIT The home entertainment industry’s most prestigious annual gathering of studio executives, analysts and other industry leaders. This year’s conference comes just as the format war has ended, setting the stage for a transition from standard DVD to Blu-ray Disc. June 16-17 Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, Century City, Calif. info: www.homemediaconferences.com >> EL ECTRONIC D EL IV ERY Shelter BUSINESS QUESTEX MEDIA GROUP INC. President & CEO: Kerry C. Gumas; Executive Vice President & CFO: Tom Caridi; Executive Vice President: Robert S. Ingraham; Executive Vice President: Tony D’Avino; Executive Vice President, Corporate Development: Claudia Flowers; Executive Vice President: Jon Leibowitz; Vice President & General Manager: Don Rosenberg; Vice President, Digital Media: Seth Nichols; Vice President, Human Resources: Diane Evans © 2008 Questex Media Group Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including by photocopy, recording or information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use, or the internal or personal use of specific clients, is granted by Questex Media Group, Inc. for libraries and other users registered with the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Dr., Danvers, MA 01923 phone: 978-750-8400 fax 978-750-4470; call for copying beyond that permitted by Sections 107 or 108 of the U.S. Copyright Law. For those not registered with the CCC, send permission request in writing to questexpermissions@reprintbuyer.com or call 800-494-9051 ext. 100. Gay/Lesbian …………………… 14 See what titles are streeting in time for Gay Pride celebrations this summer. I EMA’S HOME MEDIA EXPO 2008 Reviews ………………………… 18 Is Semi-Pro a slam dunk sports comedy? Does Dirty Harry: Ultimate Collector’s Edition provide plenty of behind-the-scenes fodder for fans of the franchise? Do Demi Moore and Michael Caine live up to the title in Flawless? News ………………………… VOD is up 60%, according to Rentrak; Sony signs a deal with cablers for TV service covering cable, VOD and DVR; coalition laments bandwidth gap. National Treasure: Book of Secrets dominated the DVD sales and rental charts, with the first three “Indiana Jones” movies rounding out the top sellers. The Home Media Expo gathers players from all over the home entertainment field, such as buyers, entertainment retailers, suppliers, distributors and sellers of home entertainment content. June 24-28 The Palms Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas info: www.homemediaexpo.com Printed in the U.S.A. TV DVD ………………………… 21 I SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL 2008 The San Diego Comic-Con enters its 39th year as the country’s premier comics and popular arts convention with a brand new slate of special guests, themes and anniversaries, and programming. July 24-27 San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, Calif. info: comic-con.org Warner puts considerable marketing muscle behind children’s anime series “Bakugan,” heading Top 20 DVD Sellers ……………………… 22 to DVD Aug. 26; Comedy Central plucks some of Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts ……… 23 its finest programming for Comedy Central’s Home Grown: Uncensored. Just Announced ……………… New Line springs Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay; Universal slates the hitman Research ……………………… Consumers raided stores for adventure titles as comedy In Bruges. June 1–7, 2008 Home Media Magazine http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://www.entertainmentaidsalliance.org http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://www.homemediaconferences.com http://www.homemediaexpo.com http://comic-con.org

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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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