Home Media Magazine - May 25 - 31, 2008 - (Page 12)

HIGH-DEF By Chris Tribbey GM titles are heading to the high-definition small screen through Comcast and Time Warner Cable. Hundreds of MGM’s library titles will be available to Comcast’s high-def subscribers as well as on Comcast’s non-HD service, bringing the cable operator’s video-ondemand offerings up to more than 10,000 per month. “This is another step in growing the incredible opportunities that exist between MGM and Comcast and deepens our strategic relationship,” said Jim Packer, www.homemediamagazine.com MGM Inks HD Deals M co-president of worldwide TV for MGM. MGM HD also has signed an affiliate agreement with Time Warner Cable to offer high-def programming to Time Warner’s customers. Separately, Time Warner has agreed to part financially from Time Warner Cable for $9.25 billion as part of the cable subsidiary’s one-time $10.27 billion dividend payment to shareholders. In addition, Time Warner exchanged its 12.4% interest in Time Warner Cable for 80 million shares of the cable subsidiary’s common stock, upping from 84% to 85.2% its common-stock ownership stake. Microsoft’s Kim: No BD Drive for Xbox 360 By John Gaudiosi AN FRANCISCO — Microsoft has nothing in development in the way of a Blu-ray Disc add-on for the Xbox 360, said Microsoft Game Studios head Shane Kim at the company’s 360 Spring Showcase. “I know Blu-ray provides some visual boost for people who want a physical HD format, but we’re not seeing that format taking off, in general,” Kim said. “The DVD format is still doing well. Eventually, the price of Blu-ray players will come down to $150, and the value proposition of a $300 or $400 PlayStation 3 as a game console and movie player will be impacted.” Kim said Microsoft’s focus on standard-definition and HD movies, TV programming and gaming content is solely on its download service Xbox Live Video Marketplace. Microsoft, which does not break down movie or TV show downloads, has had more S than 380 million pieces of entertainment, including free game trailers, demos and movie trailers, downloaded through the service since launch. “Video Marketplace helps us to speak to the more-casual gaming audience,” said Kim, who added that he believes Microsoft chose the right strategy for distribution of entertainment via Video Marketplace. “There’s a lot more to our brand than just hardcore games.” He said digital content is good for game suppliers. “As consumers get accustomed to buying additional content for games, it’s good for the industry because in addition to adding another revenue model for publishers and developers, it may mean fewer games are sold back to used-game retailers because owners will want to hold on to them longer,” he said. Kim said slowing down the sales of used games is important to the industry because only retailers, not the publishers or developers, recoup any money from used game sales. Microsoft has had great success with its Video Marketplace, which reaches more than 10 million consumers, according to the company. It’s the No. 1 online digital distribution service for consumers. Kim said this digital distribution business is one of the reasons Microsoft is so keenly focused on Sony, and not Nintendo, when it comes to the console battle, which is about controlling the living room. “I’d love to get Xbox 360 to the 100 million-unit mark as Sony has done with both PlayStation and PlayStation 2,” Kim said. Sony is launching its video store service, which is expected to offer movies, TV shows and music for download to PS3 through the PlayStation Network, later this year. Sources inside Sony say this service will include all the major studios, including Sony Pictures. Rambo TOP 20 HIGH-DEF B L U - RA Y DI S C Week ended May 18, 2008 LABEL INDEX TITLE H IG H -D EF COMING UP STREETING Dragon Ball Z: Dead Blu-ray Funimation Street Date: 5/27 Rambo Blu-ray Lionsgate Street Date: 5/27 Strauss: Die Fledarmaus Blu-ray BBC Video/Opus Arte Street Date: 5/27 Black Snake Moan Blu-ray Paramount Street Date: 6/3 Final Days of Planet Earth Blu-ray Echo Bridge Street Date: 6/3 Signs Blu-ray Disney/Touchstone Street Date: 6/3 PREBOOKING Vantage Point Blu-ray Sony Pictures Pre: 5/29, Street: 7/1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion … Untraceable I Am Legend The Golden Compass 300 Twister Blade Runner: Complete Collector’s Edition Independence Day I, Robot Troy: Director’s Cut Planet Earth: The Complete Series Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem Over America Pan’s Labyrinth P.S. I Love You Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End No Country for Old Men Black Hawk Down Shinobi: Heart Under Blade Juno Disney Sony Pictures Warner New Line Warner Warner Warner Fox Fox Warner BBC Video Fox Topics New Line Warner Disney Disney/Miramax Sony Pictures Funimation Fox 100.00 69.75 48.12 42.08 36.17 31.04 30.63 28.68 21.48 19.25 18.86 18.54 18.28 17.28 16.11 15.65 15.55 15.13 14.99 14.34 Source: Nielsen VideoScan First Alert 12 Home Media Magazine May 25–31, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://myspace.com http://www.indicanpictures.com

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Home Media Magazine - May 25 - 31, 2008 Contents News Hardware Commentary TV DVD Reviews Pipeline Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced

Home Media Magazine - May 25 - 31, 2008

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