Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - (Page 6) NEWS By Erik Gruenwedel op studio and network executives Dec. 1 publicly characterized the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) as greedy in an effort to rally industry support in the contentious and stalled labor negotiations. SAG, the union representing movie and television actors, and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) have not reached consensus on a contract that expired June 30, despite intervention by an outside federal mediator. While both sides continue to work under the former contract on an interim basis, SAG last month said it would seek approval from its 120,000 members for a strike www.homemediamagazine.com Studios, Networks Go Public in Stalled Labor Talks T — the first major work stoppage by actors since 1980. In a full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times, the AMPTP issued an “open letter” to the entertainment industry that questioned why SAG members merited a preferential contract to similar deals reached with six other unions, including the Writers Guild of America, Directors Guild of America and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. The AMPTP has offered SAG a deal — similar to what it gave writers and directors — that includes $250 million in pay hikes and jurisdiction of new media. Actors are seeking greater compensation from Internet distribution, in addition to revamping the 20- year-old DVD residual agreement, which the studios have steadfastly refused to address. In the letter — signed by Peter Chernin, chairman and CEO, the Fox Group; Brad Grey, chairman and CEO, Paramount Pictures Corp.; Robert Iger, president and CEO, The Walt Disney Co.; Michael Lynton, chairman and CEO, Sony Pictures Entertainment; Barry Meyer, chairman and CEO, Warner Bros.; Leslie Moonves, president and CEO, CBS Corp.; Harry Sloan, chairman and CEO, MGM; and Jeff Zucker, president and CEO, NBC Universal — the AMPTP said SAG’s “failed negotiating strategy” jeopardized the trust studios and networks had cultivated with 230,000 other union members within the industry. “To say yes to SAG would be to repudiate the hard work and compromises made by every other labor organization in the industry over the past ten months,” the letter said. “No single guild or union should be allowed to undermine the hard-won consensus over how our industry can experiment and then prosper in the speedily changing new media marketplace.” A source close to the producers said the letter signified unity among studios and TV networks and underscored the fact they were able to reach contract deals with other working members in the industry. “Basically, we’re standing behind the [contract] offer, and we think it’s fair,” said the source. SAG said the newspaper ad was confirmation of the studios’ re- fusal to bargain in good faith. The union said it contacted two of the studio CEOs in September to get involved in the negotiations, which it said they refused. “It better serves the industry to negotiate than to buy and respond to $100,000 newspaper ads,” SAG said in a statement. The union said actors have different needs than writers and directors, and applying a one-size-fitsall deal is unfair and dismissive. “We want exactly what the DGA got — the chance to negotiate an agreement that addresses the needs of our members,” SAG said. “No other guild or union can negotiate a pattern deal that fits the industry and SAG members, any more than ABC can negotiate license fees for NBC. No one has our proxy.” MERCHANDISING PROJECTIONS A Triple Threat By Kelly Burner Best Buy Disney; SRP $29.99, $39.99, $35.99 BD, $40.99 BD Universal; SRP $29.98, $34.98, $64.98, $39.98 BD, $69.98 BD set Sony Pictures; SRP $28.96, $34.95, $39.95 BD Target $15.99 $29.99 set; $26.99 BD; $29.99 three-disc BD Wal-Mart $14.97 $29.96 two-disc Blu-ray Circuit City $14.99 $34.99 two-disc Blu-ray Amazon.com $14.99 $22.99 set; $23.99 BD; $24.99 three-disc BD; $37.99 BD bundle Prince Caspian $14.99 $27.99 set; $24.99 BD; $34.99 three-disc BD Wanted $15.99 $22.99 set; $39.99 gift set; $26.99 BD; $49.99 BD gift set $15.99 $22.99 two-DVD set; $29.99 Blu-ray $15.97 $19.96 w/banner; $24.96 two-DVD set; $39.96 gift set; $29.96 BD $15.99 $22.99 two-DVD set; $34.99 Blu-ray $15.99 $22.99 set; $39.99 gift set; $26.99 BD; $43.99 BD gift set Step Brothers $16.99 $22.99 two-DVD unrated; $26.99 Blu-ray $16.99 $22.99 two-DVD unrated; $29.99 Blu-ray $16.96 $19.96 w/Dick and Jane; $24.96 two-DVD unrated; $29.96 BD $21.99 $24.99 two-DVD unrated; $34.99 Blu-ray $16.99 $22.99 two-DVD unrated; $24.99 Blu-ray Austin Powers Collection Warner; $74.98 BD $49.99 $54.99 $48.86* $69.99* $44.99 * Online Only n honor of the season, the studios are doling out three summer blockbusters Dec. 2: Disney’s fantasy epic The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian ($141.6 million), Universal’s action flick Wanted ($134.3 million) and the Sony Pictures comedy Step Brothers ($100.5 million). With this many $100 million-plus pictures being simultaneously released, we should expect a significant surge in packaged media sales for the week ended Dec. 7. It should be a fairly close call as to which of the three titles takes the top place on the DVD and Blu-ray Disc sales charts. I predict a breakdown roughly analogous to each title’s box-office performance, with a chance that Step Brothers will outperform Wanted. On the rental front, consumer trends would indicate that a comedy with broad appeal and comparatively low box-office performance, such as Step Brothers, will take the top spot. Other notable releases Dec. 2 include Fox’s The X-Files: I Want to Believe ($21 million), Summit Entertainment’s family film Fly Me to the Moon ($12.3 million) and Genius/Weinstein’s inspirational drama The Longshots ($11.5 million). Though they may pale in comparison to the blockbusters released on the same day, each of these three long shots are sure to make a dent in the weekly charts. RANK TITLE STUDIO WEEKS ON CHART I Holiday Madness at Retailers By Billy Gil etailers struggled with a boatload of new releases, some with as many as five available versions, the release week of Dec. 2. Disney’s The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian hit stores with four versions: a standard DVD, a three-disc collector’s edition with digital copy, a two-disc Blu-ray and a R 6 three-disc Blu-ray with digital copy. Though Prince Caspian was prominently displayed, the Angelina Jolie-starring actioner Wanted commanded a lot of attention, dominating displays and streeting in five variations: DVD, two-DVD special edition, limited edition collector’s gift set (DVD and BD versions) and the standard Blu-ray Disc. Phew! With a score of big-name new releases streeting, it’s no wonder retailers seemed a bit overwhelmed. Some chains didn’t carry the new Austin Powers: Shagadelic Edition Loaded With Extra Mojo, for instance, while Prince Caspian and Wanted popped up all over stores, though not always in every variant. It’s also worth noting that Wal-Mart in Santa Ana, Calif., seemed to be sold out of its $10 Blu-rays, and the format was featured in general. PROJECTED TOP 3 SELLERS for Week Ended 12/7 1 2 3 Prince Caspian Wanted Hancock Disney Universal New New Sony Pictures 2 PROJECTED TOP 3 RENTALS for Week Ended 12/7 1 2 3 Step Brothers Hancock Prince Caspian Sony Pictures New Sony Pictures 2 Disney New Source: Home Media Research Home Media Magazine December 7–13, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://www.Amazon.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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