Home Media Magazine - July 13-19, 2008 - (Page 1)

JULY 13–19, 2008 >> ELECTRO N IC DELIVERY Court Opens Book on YouTube Use to Studio By Chris Tribbey LEGAL The federal judge overseeing Viacom’s $1 billion copyright lawsuit against Google-owned YouTube has delivered a victory to the plaintiff, ordering YouTube to share data about who watches which video clips and when. The information will not be made public, but rather will be used by Via- INSIDE >> Online Viewing Up Internet usage grows >> Broadcast Still King Viewers prefer shows on TV PAGE 9 com and other copyright holders to determine whether user-generated videos or copyrighted videos are generating more views. YouTube users would not have their e-mails shared, the Associated Press reported. Lawyers for Google had argued that generating the data would be threatening to their customers’ privacy. A See YOUTUBE, Page 26 BRINGING DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT TO YOU Digital Doesn’t Break Disc Video sales, rentals hold up despite onslaught of negative press, analyst reports MAR KET S HAR E for First Half 2008 Blu-ray & DVD Combined Lionsgate 9% Fox 15.7% Universal 11.1% Warner (includes HBO and New Line) 20.4% Paramount 12.5% Sony Pictures 11.1% Disney 13.7% Source: Home Media Research Alvin and the Chipmunks is the No. 1 selling DVD in 2008 By Thomas K. Arnold nalysts may think packaged media is going down the tubes because of digital downloading, but sales and rental data show the home video industry is holding up remarkably well despite the down economy, the high price of gas, piracy and any consumer shift toward the Internet. Consumer spending on DVDs and Blu-ray Discs in the first six months of this year, purchases and rentals combined, was up about 1.6% from spending in the first half of 2007, according to Home Media Magazine’s market research department. The first-half 2008 tally: $10.77 billion, compared to $10.6 billion in the first six months of 2007. Spending on disc purchases rose 1.1%, from $6.8 billion to $6.87 billion. Rental spending rose 2.6% to $3.9 billion from $3.8 billion in the first six months of last year, according to Home Media Magazine market research calculations. Unit sales were up a healthy 1.1% as well, with consumers buying an estimated 412.3 million discs in the first six months of this year, up from 407.9 million discs in the first half of 2007, See FIRST-HALF, Page 28 A Hastings CEO: Catering to ‘A Constancy of Change’ By Erik Gruenwedel n an entertainment retail landscape littered with failed brands (Tower Records and Video, Musicland), Hastings Entertainment Inc. stands tall, profitable and unique. The Amarillo, Texas-based chain, with 153 stores throughout the Southwest, posted first-quarter (ended April 30) income of $3 million, up 20% from the prior-year period. The profit marked the fifth consecutive quarter Hastings posted comparable net income growth based on a blend of rental and sellthrough, including video I games, movies, consumer electronics hardware, books and coffee, among other products. The Entertainment Merchants Association in June named Hastings its retail chain of year. This October, Hastings marks its 40th anniversary at an annual threeday summit that is as much a corporate overview as college football tailgate party (store managers wear their alma matter jerseys and sing fight songs) minus the free-flowing suds. Going forward, Hastings is melding See HASTINGS, Page 28 Home A R C H Media RESE MAR KET S HAR E as of 7/6/08 I Blu-ray I DVD SAG PONDERING DEAL By Erik Gruenwedel > > HIGH-DEF Pioneer Expands Blu-ray Pioneer Corp. unveils a new 400GB disc compatible with Blu-ray technology, and will sell Blu-ray Disc recorders in Japan. Consumers spent $121.63 million on DVDs for the week Blu-ray vs. DVD Sales* 7% Consumers spent $7.86 million on Blu-ray Discs for the week S 93% Down 6.26% from the previous week * Top 20 unit volume Down 11.45% from the previous week Source: Home Media Research creen Actors Guild (SAG) leadership continued to mull over a contract proffered by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) at deadline. The AMPTP’s final offer to SAG includes more than $250 million in additional compensation over the course of the three-year contract, as well as new-media terms. The current contract, which expired June 30, is See SAG, Page 26 Europe Lags in HD European high-def adoption rates are well behind America, according to Screen Digest. PAGE 8 NEWS 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment launches an ambitious public screening program to promote its titles. PRODUCT Science-fiction writer Harlan Ellison discusses his involvement with the new “Masters of Science-Fiction” DVD. RESEARCH Sony Pictures Home Entertainment’s Vantage Point found a view from the top of the rental and sales charts. Page 4 Page 10 Page 22

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Home Media Magazine - July 13-19, 2008 Contents News News High-Def News Electronic Delivery News TV DVD Cine Mercado Reviews Pipeline Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced Christian Entertainment Review - July 2008

Home Media Magazine - July 13-19, 2008

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