Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - (Page 26) NEWS Bishop: Sony Committed to BD discounted at retailers. But we are not perspective on software to be very likely to change that for Blu-ray. strong. I HM: Will SPHE increase the number Continued from page 1 www.homemediamagazine.com JUST ANNOUNCED A Weekly Product Update* I HM: The floor price for BD players through the holidays is around $200. Is that enough to persuade budget-conscious shoppers to commit fully to the format? of titles available digitally (streaming and download) in 2009? Bishop: We’ve been pretty aggressive already with availability of titles. Bishop: As is evidenced by the sell- The key going forward is learning off of Blu-ray players over Black Fri- the best marketing technique to day weekend, I would say we hit the maximize that revenue stream. sweet spot regarding price. Some I HM: Streaming was considered the heir stores were sold out by 9:30 a.m. apparent to packaged media. Now it apClearly, it is a top gift item. There pears to have hit a wall. Is that true? will be more price-point-oriented Bishop: I wouldn’t say it has stopped. promotions throughout December It is definitely growing quite nicely and that momentum will continue. from a percentage standpoint. It is I HM: Is SPHE planning any major “fifth- certainly incremental growth at best. quarter” releases on DVD or Blu-ray? Are As we said years ago when it was you releasing first-quarter 2009 BD titles being compared to the music indusaimed at taking advantage of new Blu-ray try, which is ridiculous. People watch movies on their HDTV and 5.1 sound player owners? Bishop: We are finding that titles systems. So until you are able to dethat bleed into the PlayStation 3 liver high-quality content to the TV, demographic [i.e. video game en- then it is always going to be a subset thusiasts] are doing exceedingly well or a niche market to packaged media. across the industry. We put Pineap- I HM: Both Netflix and Blockbuster have ple Express in the market to capitalize launched ambitious streaming services on that phenomenon. We will also through standalone and third-party boxes, have Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist yet streaming revenue remains incremenwith Michael Cera, and the direct-to- tal. Has the format caught on yet with avervideo animated sequel Open Season age consumers? Or is it destined to largely 2. Then we’ll start to roll out some remain with cable VOD? key Academy Award-winning cata- Bishop: I think it helps their value propositions to the consumer. We log titles as well. It is also traditionally a good month want to get as many touch points to because you get people back into the consumer as possible. So we support the growth of that through whatstores with gift cards. I HM: Are you optimistic about year- ever means possible. So do I think end sellthrough revenue industry-wide for it is going to be a meaningful way standard DVD? It was off just slightly at people watch movies? Not today. I think it is good for Netflix and mid-year; do you expect a surge this month Blockbuster when they are selling to at least equal 2007? Bishop: We would be foolish to ex- their subscription services and they pect the standard-DVD numbers to have this additional value. But peocome to 2007 levels. There are the ple are going to be paying Netflix obvious economic situations that are primarily to get movies on DVD or keeping people out of stores, and Blu-ray. depending on the chain it can range I HM: What are your 2009 projections for from 5% down to 20% down in foot packaged media? Looking into the crystal traffic. That is obviously going to ball, what do you see? have an effect on the business. Bishop: Well, it is a bit cloudy right But that being said, the positive in now. But again I come back to the all this is the momentum we are get- growth of Blu-ray, and I think we are ting from Blu-ray. It is continuing to in for a nice ride upward. The upside grow 200% to 300% year-over-year, on all this depends on what happens and the ratio of Blu-ray and DVD at retail. All things being equal, it sales continues to rise. That calls for should be another 150% growth rate optimism. For anyone who said that for Blu-ray. By and large we can people would just go to digital and count on that piece of the business skip Blu-ray, that has certainly been because there is going to be a level proven not to be true. Even if you of enthusiasm about the format that took Blu-ray separately as a revenue people will recognize as a value and stream, it is probably 20 times larger go out and purchase. The unknown is what happens at than digital revenue. I HM: Will Blu-ray maintain its premium the store-traffic level. A big percentpricing, or will it dissolve into commodity age of our business is driven off of impulse sales. So if people aren’t in pricing? Bishop: Certainly on the new-release stores, then we could potentially take side, there is no reason to change a hit. But I think the enthusiasm over pricing. New-release pricing has held Blu-ray technology will help us even on DVD for a while, albeit heavily in the worse-case scenario. Max Payne STREET DATE The Secret Life of Bees BOX OFFICE (MILLIONS) Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist TITLE PREBOOK GENRE PRICE Max Payne 1/20/09 12/24 $40.5 Action DVD $29.98, BD $39.99 Fox. 2008. Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Beau Bridges, Chris O’Donnell. Based on the video game, an obsessive DEA agent seeks revenge for the gruesome murders of his family and partner. Also available as a special-edition DVD with digital copy at $34.98. The Secret Life of Bees 2/3/09 1/7/09 $36.7 Drama DVD $29.98, BD $39.99 Fox. 2008. Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo. Based on the bestselling novel by Sue Monk Kidd, a young girl and her nanny run away from her abusive father and find a home on a honey farm. Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist 2/3/09 1/1/09 $31.5 Comedy DVD $28.96, BD $39.95 Sony Pictures. 2008. Michael Cera, Kat Dennings, Ari Graynor, Aaron Yoo. Two New Jersey teenagers who are fans of the same indie rock band meet while trying to find the secret location where the band is playing in New York City. Also available on UMD ($24.94). Appaloosa 1/13/09 12/16 $19.9 Western DVD $28.98, BD $35.99 Warner. 2008. Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Renee Zellweger, Jeremy Irons. Based on the novel by Robert B. Parker, the friendship of two hired-gun peacekeepers is tested when a beautiful woman comes to the town they are policing. RocknRolla 1/27/09 12/23 $5.6 Action DVD $27.95, BD $35.99 Warner. 2008. Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Thandie Newton, Jeremy Piven, Chris Bridges. A Guy Ritchie-directed movie in which various members of London’s criminal world all vie for a piece of the same loot. Also available in a two-DVD special edition at $34.99. Bottle Shock 2/3/09 1/7/09 $4.1 Drama DVD $27.98 Fox. 2008. Alan Rickman, Bill Pullman, Chris Pine, Rachael Taylor, Eliza Dushku. Based on the true story of novice California vintner Jim Barrett, who beat French wine makers in a blind taste test, thereby establishing the Napa Valley’s reputation in the industry. Repo! The Genetic Opera 1/20/09 12/30 $0.11 Musical DVD $19.98, BD $29.98 Lionsgate. 2008. Alexa Vega, Anthony Stewart Head, Paris Hilton. A horror-themed rock opera that takes place in the future, where a biotech company sells organ transplants to those in need, and if recipients miss a payment the organs are taken back by the repo men. The Great Polar Bear Adventure 1/20/09 12/9 Cable Family DVD $14.95 Genius. 2006. Voices of Howie Mandel, Megan Follows. A combination of live-action and CG animation, a mother polar bear teaches her young cubs survival skills as their traditional hunting grounds melt due to global warming. American East 1/20/09 12/24 DTV Drama DVD $26.98 Fox/MGM. 2008. Sayed Badreya, Tony Shalhoub, Sarah Shahi, Constance Zimmer, Kais Nashif. The film demonstrates the challenges facing Arab-Americans in a post-9/11 era through the stories of three people. The Tenth Circle 2/3/09 1/1/09 Cable Drama DVD $24.96 Sony Pictures. 2008. Kelly Preston, Ron Eldard, Brittany Robertson, Michael Riley, Jamie Johnston. A Lifetime Television movie based on the bestselling Jodi Picoult novel in which a family finds itself amid an investigation when the daughter’s alleged rapist is found dead. Gym Teacher: The Movie 2/3/09 1/15/09 Cable Comedy DVD $19.95 Sony Pictures. 2008. Nathan Kress, Christopher Meloni, Amy Sedaris, David Alan Grier. A Nickelodeon original movie about an athletically challenged middle-school student who is pressured to compete in the National Gym Class Fitness Competition. Palo Alto 2/17/09 1/20/09 DTV Comedy DVD $27.98 Image. 2008. Ben Savage, Johnny Lewis, Justin Mentell, Aaron Ashmore, Tom Arnold. A coming-of-age movie about four college freshman and childhood friends searching for an adventure on their last night of Thanksgiving break. Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder 2/24/09 1/28/09 DTV Comedy DVD $29.98, BD $39.98 Fox. 2008. The latest feature-length adventure in the series includes guest appearances by Penn Jillette, Snoop Dogg, Phil Hendrie and Seth MacFarlane. Includes commentary, deleted scenes, a making-of mockumentary and more. Side Effects 3/24/09 2/17/09 DTV Comedy DVD $19.97 Warner. 2005. Katherine Heigl, Lucian McAfee. A young woman grapples with the decision to leave her very lucrative, but morally bankrupt, sales career when her new love interest encourages her to be true to her ideals. Includes commentary, deleted scenes and more. * In order of box office, then prebook date Home Media Magazine December 7–13, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 Contents News News High-Def News Electronic Delivery News TV DVD Reviews Pipeline Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 (Page Cover1) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 (Page Cover2) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 (Page 1) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 (Page 2) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Contents (Page 3) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Contents (Page 4) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - News (Page 5) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - News (Page 6) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - News (Page 7) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - High-Def News (Page 8) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - High-Def News (Page 9) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Electronic Delivery News (Page 10) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Electronic Delivery News (Page 11) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - TV DVD (Page 12) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - TV DVD (Page 13) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Reviews (Page 14) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Reviews (Page 15) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Reviews (Page 16) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Reviews (Page 17) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Reviews (Page 18) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Reviews (Page 19) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Pipeline (Page 20) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Pipeline (Page 21) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Top 20 DVD Sellers (Page 22) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Top 20 DVD Sellers (Page 23) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 24) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 25) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 26) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 27) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 28) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Just Announced (Page Cover3) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Just Announced (Page Cover4)
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