Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - (Page 12) ELECTRONIC DELIVERY www.homemediamagazine.com Time Warner CEO: More Profit in Digital vs. Disc By Erik Gruenwedel ime Warner president and CEO Jeff Bewkes said the media company will continue to pursue digital distribution, which he said offered more “opportunities than challenges.” Speaking at a Goldman Sachs investor conference last week in New York, Bewkes — a longtime proponent of digital video-on-demand (VOD) on cable and the Internet — for the first time said electronic sellthrough was 30% to 40% more profitable than DVD sales. Warner Bros. has aggressively marketed new releases on DVD dayand-date with cable VOD, including Time Warner Cable. The studio and others are conducting ongoing tests with cable operators to determine VOD’s effect on DVD sellthrough. Bewkes said an electronic sellthrough title generates $13 to $14 in studio contribution, compared to about $10 for DVD. He said the return was even better with rental, where studio contribution ranged from $2.80 to $3 for electronic compared to 75 cents to 80 cents for DVD rental. “That is a pretty good trade,” Bewkes said. Edward Woo, media analyst with Wedbush Morgan Securities in Los Angeles, said Time Warner’s apparent Fever Pitch is one of the films streaming on IMDb. T willingness to discount packaged media underscored confusion about margin percentage and margin dollars. Woo cited music sales, where digital distribution and margins significantly eclipsed CD sales but not margin dollars because consumers now buy select songs instead of an entire album. “[Bewkes] is right about margin percentage being higher on digital, but margin dollars are higher on a DVD purchase,” Woo said. Bewkes said additional benefits of making product available across multiple formats and distribution channels (ad-supported streams, VOD, DVD, theatrical, etc.) involved circumventing piracy and file-sharing, which he said had “essentially flattened out” in the past 18 months. The executive said despite the emergence of video file-sharing in 2001, DVD sales have continued to rise in the United States. Increased consumer appetite for high-definition content has also rendered camcorder versions of movies non-competitive, according to Bewkes. “Legitimate companies throughout the distribution channel make the product available on time, at a good price, in a good format [and] in a different way: rent, buy or watch with ads,” he said. “That is going to be the answer, and it is pretty well on the way.” IMDb Is Streaming Films and TV Shows By Erik Gruenwedel iming to become more than a go-to information source for movies, TV shows and talent, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb.com) has begun offering free streams of more than 6,000 feature-length films and TV programs, including upcoming new fall TV season premieres. The Amazon-owned site struck adsupported distribution deals with CBS, Hulu.com, Sony Pictures Television and more than 500 independent filmmakers that call for a rotation of catalog and new material. The venture provides an alternative to Amazon’s recently announced service that offers movies and TV programming without commercials. The site will bow season premieres of select prime-time shows before their air dates, including NBC’s “Knight Rider” and “Lipstick Jungle” (Sept. 24), “Chuck” and “Life” (Sept. 29), and “30 Rock” (Oct. 23). Other TV programming includes Fox’s “24,” “Family Guy,” “House” A and “The Simpsons”; CBS’ “CSI” and “Big Brother”; and NBC’s “Heroes” and “The Office.” Movies include Fever Pitch, Fiddler on the Roof, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Hoop Dreams, Raising Arizona and Some Like It Hot. “Our goal is to show our users every movie and TV show on the Internet for free,” said Col Needham, founder and managing director of IMDb.com. JAMAN ADDS ANIME By Erik Gruenwedel BRIEF I TRU2WAY ON THE WAY One less remote, one less set-top box and a lot more interactivity are some of the goals behind tru2way. The technology will streamline TV viewing by plugging cable directly into the TV, without a settop box, and offer interactive program guides and ads, Web access, games and shopping. Sony, Samsung, LG Electronics, Panasonic, and Toshiba are a few of the HDTV companies on board with tru2way so far. – Chris Tribbey D ownload service Jaman.com will offer anime movies and episodic content from Starz Media’s Manga Entertainment. Feature-length films will be available for $2.99 each, with TV series episodes available for $1.99 each. Titles include the critically acclaimed “Ghost in the Shell,” 1980s series “Robotech,” and other serials including “Astro Boy,” “Street Fighter II V,” “Noein,” “Kara” and “Tactics.” Movies are viewable on a downloadable PC/Mac-compatible player. “Animation fans are among the most passionate in the world, and episodic content has proven to be very popular with our audience,” said Gaurav Dhillon, founder and CEO of Jaman. San Mateo, Calif.-based Jaman, which last month inked a catalog distribution agreement with Lionsgate, has similar deals with Paramount Pictures, First Look Studios, Magnolia Pictures, BBC Worldwide and Arts Alliance America. TOP 5 RANK TITLE E LE C T R O NI C SELLT H R OUG H Week ended September 13, 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 September 14, 2008 RELEASE DATE VIDEO LABEL GENRE 1 2 3 4 5 The Forbidden Kingdom Baby Mama The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior Married Life Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow 9/9/08 9/9/08 8/19/08 9/2/08 9/2/08 Lionsgate Universal Universal Sony Pictures Lionsgate Action Comedy Adventure Drama Animated Source: Movielink 1 2 3 4 5 Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay 7/29/08 10,000 B.C. Lost Boys: The Tribe The Forbidden Kingdom Street Kings 6/24/08 7/29/08 9/9/08 8/19/08 Warner Warner Warner Lionsgate Fox Comedy Adventure Horror Action Thriller Source: CinemaNow TOP 5 RANK TITLE E LE CT R O NIC D OW NLOAD S Week ended September 13, 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 September 14, 2008 RELEASE DATE VIDEO LABEL GENRE 1 2 3 4 5 21 The Bank Job Nim’s Island Stargate: Continuum War Games: The Dead Code 8/21/08 8/13/08 9/3/08 8/28/08 8/28/08 Sony Pictures Lionsgate Fox Fox/MGM Fox/MGM Drama Thriller Family Sci-Fi Thriller Source: Movielink 1 2 3 4 5 The Bank Job Vantage Point Meet Bill Snow Angels 8/13/08 7/31/08 8/15/08 9/16/08 Lionsgate Sony Pictures First Look Warner Warner Thriller Thriller Comedy Drama Comedy Source: CinemaNow Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay 7/29/08 12 Home Media Magazine September 21–27, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://www.IMDb.com http://www.IMDb.com http://www.Hulu.com http://www.Jaman.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 Contents News High-Def News Electronic Delivery News Women in Home Entertainment Reviews Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 (Page Cover1) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 (Page Cover2) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 (Page 1) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 (Page 2) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 (Page 3) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 (Page 4) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Contents (Page 5) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - News (Page 6) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - News (Page 7) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - High-Def News (Page 8) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - High-Def News (Page 9) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - High-Def News (Page 10) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - High-Def News (Page 11) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Electronic Delivery News (Page 12) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Electronic Delivery News (Page 13) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Women in Home Entertainment (Page 14) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Women in Home Entertainment (Page 15) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Women in Home Entertainment (Page 16) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Women in Home Entertainment (Page 17) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Women in Home Entertainment (Page 18) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Women in Home Entertainment (Page 19) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Women in Home Entertainment (Page 20) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Women in Home Entertainment (Page 21) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Women in Home Entertainment (Page 22) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Women in Home Entertainment (Page 23) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Women in Home Entertainment (Page 24) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Women in Home Entertainment (Page 25) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Women in Home Entertainment (Page 26) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Women in Home Entertainment (Page 27) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Women in Home Entertainment (Page 28) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Women in Home Entertainment (Page 29) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Women in Home Entertainment (Page 30) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Women in Home Entertainment (Page 31) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Women in Home Entertainment (Page 32) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Women in Home Entertainment (Page 33) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Reviews (Page 34) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Reviews (Page 35) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Reviews (Page 36) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Reviews (Page 37) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Top 20 DVD Sellers (Page 38) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 39) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 40) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 41) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 42) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 43) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 44) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Just Announced (Page Cover3) Home Media Magazine - September 21, 2008 - Just Announced (Page Cover4)
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