Home Media Magazine - February 23-March 1, 2009 - (Page 5) www.homemediamagazine.com MENU FROM THE EDITOR BY STEPHANIE PRANGE, EDITOR IN CHIEF www.homemediamagazine.com PUBLISHER & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Thomas K. Arnold S tarnold@questex.com EDITOR IN CHIEF Stephanie Prange S sprange@questex.com EDITORIAL Managing Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Angelique Flores aflores@questex.com Senior Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Erik Gruenwedel egruenwedel@questex.com Senior Reporter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Tribbey ctribbey@questex.com Assistant Managing Editor. . . . . . . . . . . John Latchem jlatchem@questex.com Associate Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . Billy Gil, Kyra Kudick bgil@questex.com S kkudick@questex.com Intern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Erika Carmona ART Art Director. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Melbert Sebayan msebayan@questex.com Graphic Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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Jennifer Guerena jguerena@questex.com 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 Closing the Window on Disc Release M uch has been made of the idea that video-on-demand but could only find it at one theater in my area. There I found a long viewings should be available at the same time discs line of patrons — the couple in front of me said they were seeing it hit stores; obviously, it’s a win for VOD providers for the second time — who would have been more than willing to who’ve traditionally been upstaged by packaged media. Cer- purchase the film on disc at the local Wal-Mart or bookstore rather tainly, Summit Entertainment seems to be playing no favorites than wait in line at the only theater showing the film in the area. If these same folks had purchased the film on DVD or Blu-ray, when it comes to VOD vs. disc on the hit Twilight. The studio will reportedly offer the title the same day on VOD and disc, as not only would it have meant more money to the studio, but it would have come in the first week of release, have other studios on occasion. rather than weeks later as patrons waited for My question is: Why do VOD providers get to WITH SMALLER, MOREthe crowds to subside. Also, the studios might close the window on disc while the disc doesn’t INTIMATE CHARACTER have captured more viewers. Who knows get to do the same to the theatrical window? PIECES, MIGHT IT NOT how many viewers couldn’t find the time to After all, DVD has traditionally made more MAKE MORE SENSE TO money for the studios than they make at the CLOSE THE WINDOW FOR go to the one theater in their area showing Frost/Nixon, but who were willing to buy it box office. Why not let the disc have the same THE DISC? on disc instead? window as theaters? Los Angeles Times columnist Patrick Goldstein noted in his reCertainly, this wouldn’t work with blockbusters that are meant to make a splash on the big screen. But with smaller, cent column that Oscar nominees haven’t seen much of a bump more intimate character pieces, might it not make more sense at the box office this year. He also noted that Frost/Nixon’s to close the window for disc? Why can’t Frost/Nixon come out theatrical release lost venues because blockbusters sucked up on disc the same week — or very close to it — that it hits theat- all the theaters. The disc could have satisfied that demand. ers? If you are talking about satisfying consumer demand, it only makes sense. This month I had some free time and went to see Frost/Nixon Stephanie Prange’s e-mail address is sprange@questex.com IN THIS ISSUE FEB. 23-MARCH 1, 2009 / VOL. 31 / NO. 8 Wal-Mart posts a modest profit gain and says it will have more retail exclusives; research says many connected homes subscribe to premium delivery services. ON THE WEB News …………………………… 6 7 >> HIGH- DEF MARKETING Marketing Director. . . . . . . . . . . . Kristina Kronenberg kkronenberg@questex.com S 714/338-6743 Marketing Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . Kaitlyn DeWaard kdewaard@questex.com PRODUCTION Production Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rhonda Sande Production Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jennifer Evans jevans@questex.com S 714/338-6769 OFFICE 714/338-6700, 800/371-6897, FAX 714/338-6710 homemediamagazine@questex.com 201 East Sandpointe Ave., Suite 500 Santa Ana, CA 92707-8716 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 . . . . Debbie Gullian BUSINESS QUESTEX MEDIA GROUP INC. News …………………………… I GET OUR DAILY NEWSLETTER Our daily newsletter features the top five home entertainment news stories of the day, plus links to our columns, reviews and more. It’s the easiest way to stay updated on the industry, with only the essential information sent your way. To get our daily newsletter, visit homemediamagazine.com/ daily. Sonic Solutions posts a quarterly loss; Warner will give out Terminator: Salvation movie cash in select catalog DVDs. News ………………………… Documentary ………………… 12 A filmmaker and former conservative talk show host takes a look at media bias; MVD has music docs about Linkin Park, Morrissey and Dee Dee Ramone. Paramount plans “Star Trek” Blu-ray releases in advance of the new theatrical film; Monsters, Inc., A Bug’s Life and Dr. Strangelove head to Blu-ray. >> EL ECTRONIC D EL IV ERY WWW.HOMEMEDIAMAGAZINE.COM CALENDAR I PEVE DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT News ………………………… Stomp Live President & CEO: Kerry C. Gumas; Executive Vice President & CFO: Tom Caridi; Executive Vice President: Tony D’Avino; Executive Vice President: Jon Leibowitz; Vice President, Human Resources: Diane Evans © 2009 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. Reviews ………………………… 16 Comcast says it lost a half-million customers in 2008; Sony Ericsson phones will offer movie downloads; March Madness to stream in HD. For the second year, Europe’s longest-running home video conference teams with global media analysts Screen Digest to address key issues facing the global home entertainment industry. March 12-13 Cité Internationale Universitaire in Paris Info: www.peve.screendigest.com Will Stomp Live make noise on Blu-ray? Does Gardens of the Night illuminate a difficult subject? Research ……………………… Will thriller fans tell everyone to watch Tell No Paramount/DreamWorks’ Madagascar: Escape 2 One? Africa was once again the top seller, while Warner’s Nights in Rodanthe took rentals. I DRIVING DIGITAL CONTENT Futuresource Consulting presents a two-day conference on the business opportunities presented by the digital world. Topics covered will include connecting to the TV and BD Live. June 4-5 The Cumberland, London Info: www.futuresource-consulting.com/ddc09/ Pipeline ………………………… 20 Printed in the U.S.A. Shout! Factory brings Johnny Got His Gun and Top 20 Sellers …………………………… 24 “Rhoda” to DVD for the first time; Warner bows Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts ……… 25 its fourth director’s showcase; Universal explores pre-code Hollywood; Sony Pictures bows two Just Announced ……………… Bogdanovich films. Disney slates Oscar contender Doubt. February 23–March 1, 2009 Home Media Magazine http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://www.homemediamagazine.com/daily http://www.homemediamagazine.com/daily http://WWW.HOMEMEDIAMAGAZINE.COM http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://www.peve.screendigest.com http://www.futuresource-consulting.com/ddc09/
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