Home Media Magazine - July 6-12, 2008 - (Page 8)

ELECTRONIC DELIVERY www.homemediamagazine.com Google and MacFarlane Team for Web Series By Chris Tribbey oogle is becoming a content owner and distributor at the same time. A New York Times report has confirmed that the Internet giant and “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane are producing a new animated project that will be distributed exclusively on the Internet. “Seth MacFarlane’s Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy” consists of 50 two-minute episodes, the Times reported, and will be distributed via Google’s AdSense advertising platform, which matches Internet ads to relevant Web sites. Google did not return a request for comment by press time. The Times reported the episodes will play with ads streaming at the Report: Most Still Want TV Content on the TV Set By Chris Tribbey nternet TV is growing bigger by the day, but consumers still want their shows on their living room screen, according to a report from Nielsen and the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM). An overwhelming majority of respondents (94%) to the survey said they preferred their shows on their TV as opposed to their computer, with one out of three respondents saying they have watched TV shows on the Internet. Of those who watched TV shows online, 87% said they watched shows directly on network Web sites, and 82% said they went online specifically to see an episode they missed on TV. “With so many viewing options now available via digital technology, it’s more important than ever to understand how people are consuming media,” said Nielsen EVP Susan Whiting. “This analysis shows a continuing strong appetite for watching television the traditional way even as viewers G bottom of the videos or will play before the episodes. MacFarlane also has worked with some advertisers to animate commercials for them. The Times reported “Cavalcade” will be the highest-priced original Internet content ever produced. A DVD will eventually follow, the Times reported. “I just felt I could be a lot more honest on the Internet,” MacFarlane told the paper about his reasons for choosing the Internet for the series, calling them “animated versions of the one-frame cartoons you might see in The New Yorker, only edgier.” MacFarlane, Google, the Web site hosting the episodes, and production company Media Rights Capital will share revenue, the Times reported. Russ Crupnick, VP and senior industry analyst for The NPD Group, said because of MacFarlane’s star power and the approach Google is taking, the ad-supported content could be a hit. “These days, it is so easy to skip the ads, close them out,” he said. “But with what he’s doing, it may get more eyeballs. There’s more engagement.” I Indies Ink With Amazon By Chris Tribbey he Independent Online Distributors Alliance (IODA) has inked a deal with Amazon, allowing IODA’s films and music to be distributed via the digital download service Amazon Unbox and Amazon-owned CreateSpace. “Demand for independent film content continues to grow,” said IODA founder and CEO Kevin Arnold. begin to extend their viewing to the personal computer.” Online TV viewers also are seeking background on show stars (39%), watching previews (38%) and seeking background info on shows (37%). Shorter-form content, such as movie trailers (53%) and user-generated content (45%), are still the most-preferred forms of online video overall, the survey said. “Tracking how consumer behavior is changing as a result of new television viewing platforms is critical to our business,” said CTAM president and CEO Char Beales. “As preferences are made clear through research, cable companies and content providers evolve the product mix to best suit viewers’ needs and desires.” The survey also showed consumers becoming more savvy to free ondemand offerings on their TV, with 71% of respondents saying they access those services, up from 49% in 2005. Of all HDTV owners in the survey, 41% said they paid for high-def service. T “IODA’s catalog of indie content is also a perfect fit for CreateSpace, which makes DVD production and sales not only logistically possible but also potentially lucrative for the indie film rightsholder.” IODA has also reached digital distribution agreements with three new independent film companies: Arab Film Distribution, NCircle and Indie Rights. “The number of people who are now using the Internet to discover, share and enjoy movies online has magnified the word-of-mouth effect for the indie film industry,” Arnold said. “Adding such a well-known, large retailer like Amazon to our distribution network will make it even easier for the indie film and video makers IODA works with to develop their fan bases worldwide.” BRIEF I SONY INTERNATIONAL OFFERS DIVX CONTENT Sony Pictures Television International has made an agreement with DivX to offer online retailers in international markets feature ﬁlms and TV shows for playback on DivX certiﬁed devices. It follows a similar Sony agreement in the domestic market in January. – Stephanie Prange TOP 5 RANK TITLE E LE C T R O NI C SELLT H R OUG H Week ended June 28, 2008 RELEASE DATE VIDEO LABEL GENRE TOP 5 RANK TITLE E L E C TRO N I C S E L L THRO U GH Week ended June 29, 2008 RELEASE DATE VIDEO LABEL GENRE 1 2 3 4 5 The Spiderwick Chronicles 10,000 B.C. Definitely, Maybe Fool’s Gold Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins 6/24/08 6/24/08 6/24/08 6/17/08 6/17/08 Paramount Warner Universal Warner Universal Fantasy Action Comedy Adventure Comedy Source: Movielink 1 2 3 4 5 10,000 B.C. Justice League: The New Frontier Caligula: Imperial Edition Bonneville Rambo 6/24/08 2/26/08 10/2/07 6/24/08 5/27/08 Warner Warner Image Fox Lionsgate Action Animated Drama Drama Action Source: CinemaNow TOP 5 RANK TITLE E LE CT R O NIC D OW NLOAD S Week ended June 28, 2008 RELEASE DATE VIDEO LABEL GENRE TOP 5 RANK TITLE E L E C TRO N I C DO WN L O A DS Week ended June 29, 2008 RELEASE DATE VIDEO LABEL GENRE 1 2 3 4 5 10,000 B.C. The Bucket List Fool’s Gold Rambo Untraceable 6/24/08 6/24/08 6/17/08 6/25/08 6/27/08 Warner Warner Warner Lionsgate Sony Pictures Action Comedy Adventure Action Thriller Source: Movielink 1 2 3 4 5 10,000 B.C. Chaos Theory Charlie Wilson’s War Rambo Untraceable 6/24/08 6/17/08 6/5/08 6/25/08 6/27/08 Warner Warner Universal Lionsgate Sony Pictures Action Comedy Drama Action Thriller Source: CinemaNow 8 Home Media Magazine July 6–12, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com

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Home Media Magazine - July 6-12, 2008 Contents News TV DVD Reviews Pipeline Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced

Home Media Magazine - July 6-12, 2008

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