Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - (Page 5) www.homemediamagazine.com MENU FROM THE EDITOR BY STEPHANIE PRANGE, EDITOR IN CHIEF www.homemediamagazine.com How Low Can They Go? Under $200 PUBLISHER & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Thomas K. Arnold EDITOR IN CHIEF Stephanie Prange EDITORIAL Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Angelique Flores Senior Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Erik Gruenwedel Senior Reporter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Tribbey Assistant Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Latchem Associate Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Billy Gil, Kyra Kudick Contributors. . . . . . . . . John Gaudiosi, Anne Sherber, Fred Topel, Ralph Tribbey, Holly J. Wagner Intern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laleh Ghalambor M ART Art Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Melbert Sebayan Graphic Designer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charles Park RESEARCH Market Research Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kelly Burner ADVERTISING 800/338-6700, FAX 714/338-6712 Advertising Sales Representative . . . . . . . . . . . . John Boezinger 714/338-6704 Advertising Sales Representative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Julie Savant 714/368-1020 Advertising Sales Representative . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kurt Wohlman 714/338-6749 Business Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joni Wu Group Administrative Coordinator. . . . . . . . . . Jennifer Guerena 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 any have been waiting for Blu-ray Disc players to quarter, even in these hard times. Indications are entertainment will hit the magical under-$200 price. Most didn’t ex- fare well despite the downturn. The NPD Group recently found that pect it to come so soon, but Best Buy is selling its consumers rank home entertainment in the top 10 items they plan proprietary Insignia brand Blu-ray player for $199 with a $30 to purchase as a gift, with DVD ranked No. 3, electronics at No. 5 in-store discount. and video games at No. 6. With the impending February switch to Granted it’s a Profile 1.1 player that doesn’t offer Web-con- digital TV, some may pick up a flat-screen TV this holiday season nected BD Live capabilities. Still, at less than $200, it may as electronics retailers lower prices. What better sweetener than a prompt mainstream consumers to take the Blu-ray player thrown in as well? leap into high-definition disc, even in a dif- AT LESS THAN $200, IT MAY While low-priced hardware may seem disasficult economy — and that’s a much-needed PROMPT MAINSTREAM trous to consumer electronics manufacturers, boost for the format. CONSUMERS TO TAKE THE it may prove just the kind of impetus consumBlu-ray software is burgeoning at the same LEAP INTO HIGH-DEFINITION ers need to move into the Blu future. When time, with studios releasing most of the recent DISC, EVEN IN A DIFFICULT things pick up again, they’ll likely buy the big hits and such high-profile theatrical cataECONOMY. higher-priced hardware to take advantage of log titles as The Godfather on Blu-ray in time all BD Live has to offer. for Q4. The number of Blu-ray titles released year-to-date is up The consumer is becoming more price sensitive, and even a about 100% from last year, according to Ralph Tribbey of The top-quality product such as Blu-ray must satisfy that need. DVD Release Report (see column, page 6). When I talk to people about Blu-ray, invariably they mention Changes are happening at retail as well. During a recent visit its high price as an impediment to buying. If the format is to to Costco, I saw about a sixth of inventory dedicated to Blu-ray have a long and successful run, suppliers and retailers will have Discs, with an under-$300 Samsung Blu-ray player promi- to overcome that hurdle. nently displayed in the front aisle. It would seem all of the stars are aligning for a great Blu-ray fourth Stephanie Prange’s e-mail address is sprange@questex.com MARKETING Marketing Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kristina Kronenberg 714/338-6743 Marketing Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kaitlyn DeWaard IN THIS ISSUE OCT. 26-NOV. 1, 2008 / VOL. 30 / NO. 42 Blockbuster has a winning quarter, despite a depressed economy; Carl Icahn ups his stake in Lionsgate; Nasdaq gives Image an extension. DIGITAL MEDIA Online Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Renee Rosado PRODUCTION Production Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bonnie Ling Production Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jennifer Evans 714/338-6769 Assistant Production Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brady Gallardo OFFICES 714/338-6700, 800/371-6897, FAX 714/338-6710 homemediamagazine@questex.com 201 East Sandpointe Ave., Suite 500 Santa Ana, CA 92707-8716 ON THE WEB Nov. 11 News …………………………… >> HIGH- DEF TV DVD ………………………… 12 Tommy Smothers discusses his then-controversial 1960s series “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” on DVD from Time Life. I TV DVD AWARDS Relive the excitement of the fifth annual TV DVD Awards with streaming video from the event held Oct. 14, 2008, in Los Angeles, including a keynote address from “Lost” executive producer Carlton Cuse. Check it out in the Original Content section of www.HomeMediaMagazine.com/video, also featuring footage from such events as the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con International. News ………………………… Chris Tribbey, Senior Reporter 818-788-8616, FAX 818-530-2486 16130 Ventura Blvd. #570 Encino, CA 91436 CREDIT Credit/Collections Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ron Wright Sr. KidVid ………………………… 15 See a list of titles coming to DVD and Blu-ray Disc for children, such as Kung Fu Panda, from Paramount and DreamWorks. Kung Fu Panda Sharp debuts an HDTV with a built-in Blu-ray player in Japan; Vizio has new mid-size HDTVs; external Blu-ray Disc drives arrive. 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 Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . Heidi Spangler >> EL ECTRONIC D EL IV ERY WWW.HOMEMEDIAMAGAZINE.COM BUSINESS QUESTEX MEDIA GROUP INC. President & CEO: Kerry C. Gumas; Executive Vice President & CFO: Tom Caridi; Executive Vice President: Robert S. Ingraham; Executive Vice President: Tony D’Avino; Executive Vice President, Corporate Development: Claudia Flowers; Executive Vice President: Jon Leibowitz; Vice President, Digital Media: Seth Nichols; Vice President, Human Resources: Diane Evans © 2008 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. CALENDAR News ………………………… CBS Interactive begins “Novel Adventures” Web series; iPhone catapults Apple’s financials, while Steve Jobs calls set-top box endeavors a “hobby.” I STREAMING MEDIA WEST The conference on all things digital delivery. Oct. 27-30 Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel in Santa Monica, Calif. info: www.digitalhollywood.com/LAFall08Agenda.html Research ……………………… 20 Paramount whipped up a hit with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, topping the DVD sales, DVD rental and Blu-ray Disc sales charts. I AMERICAN FILM MARKET This year’s AFM will feature 513 film screenings. Nov. 5-12 Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, Santa Monica, Calif. info: www.ifta-online.org/afm/home.asp Printed in the U.S.A. Top 20 DVD Sellers ……………………… 20 Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts ……… 21 Reviews ………………………… 17 Just Announced ……………… 22 Is Futurama: Bender’s Game a winner on home video? Will fans flock to the Mystery Science Theater 3000: 20th Anniversary Edition boxed set? Does the “Godfather” trilogy hold up on Blu-ray Disc? Sony Pictures takes off with Pineapple Express and struts with The House Bunny; Genius/Weinstein takes a trip with Vicky Cristina Barcelona; Magnolia reveals Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson. I HD-3 HD conference presented by Home Media Magazine. InterContinental Hotel and Resorts, Los Angeles. info: homemediaconferences.com October 26–November 1, 2008 Home Media Magazine http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://www.HomeMediaMagazine.com/video http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://WWW.HOMEMEDIAMAGAZINE.COM http://www.digitalhollywood.com/LAFall08Agenda.html http://www.ifta-online.org/afm/home.asp http://www.homemediaconferences.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 Contents News TV DVD KidVid Reviews Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 (Page Cover1) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 (Page Cover2) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 (Page 1) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 (Page 2) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 (Page 3) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 (Page 4) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - Contents (Page 5) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - News (Page 6) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - News (Page 7) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - News (Page 8) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - News (Page 9) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - News (Page 10) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - News (Page 11) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - TV DVD (Page 12) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - TV DVD (Page 13) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - TV DVD (Page 14) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - KidVid (Page 15) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - KidVid (Page 16) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - Reviews (Page 17) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - Reviews (Page 18) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - Reviews (Page 19) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - Top 20 DVD Sellers (Page 20) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 21) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 22) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 23) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 24) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - Just Announced (Page Cover3) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - Just Announced (Page Cover4) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - Just Announced (Page P1) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - Just Announced (Page P2) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - Just Announced (Page P3) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - Just Announced (Page P4) Home Media Magazine - October 26-November 1, 2008 - Just Announced (Page P5)
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