Home Media Magazine - May 11-17, 2008 - (Page 30)

NEWS Music DVDs in Resurgence Continued from page 1 www.homemediamagazine.com SAG, Producer Talks Cease Continued from page 1 growth category and a sweet spot for [traditional] music stores.º Mayfield said music video packaged media, while not necessarily a boon for mass merchants, benefited from a number of CD/DVD exclusives released by Best Buy. ªIt gives record retailers a larger selection,º he s aid. Indeed, the Minneapolis-based electronics retailer has made music DVD a signature niche following the success of its Rolling Stones Four Flix release in 2003. The title became the No. 1 selling long-form music DVD in history, according to the RIAA. Best Buy followed with successive music DVDs from Elton John, Usher, another Stones title, Justin Timberlake, Mariah Carey, Tom Petty and Christina Aguilera. Best Buy spokesperson Brian Lucas said exclusivity and quality of artists is what attracted the retailer to music DVD. He said incorporating special features that allow viewers to focus on particular members of a band during songs as well as behind-thescenes content, commentaries and concert footage bring consumers closer to the artists. ª Music DVD, if done right, can be a real energizer to music lovers,º Lucas said. ª It puts people in the front row. Anything you can do to energize music lovers is a good thing.º Retailers are also keen on upstart Music Video Interactive (MVI), songs incorporated within a physical DVD that also enable connectivity to Web-based bonus material. A recent survey by The NPD Group found that MVI rated favorably among younger consumers. With teens and college students the most likely to consume pirated content, the NPD found that 44% of survey respondents said they would consider purchasing an MVI album. Indeed, at last week' s 50th National Association of Recording Merchandisers confab, president Jim Donio said the industry could benefit from ª an invigorated CD 2.0.º ªD oesn't it make sense to support the vitality of physical and hybrid album offerings alongside new digital-only models?º D onio asked. Music video downloads in 2007 increased 43% to 14.2 million units and $28.2 million in revenue, compared to 9.9 million units and $19.7 million in sales in 2006. That increase came largely from such sites as YouTube and MySpace. Not surprisingly, music CD shipments and revenue in 2007 declined 17.5% and 20.5%, respectively, to 511 million units (from 619.7 million) and $7.4 billion (from $9.3 billion) in revenue in 2006. and Radio Artists (AFTRA) May 7. The move was seen by some as a ploy by producers to ink a separate labor agreement that would increase pressure on SAG to come to a resolution on issues related to DVD residuals and new media, among others. SAG and AFTRA traditionally negotiated labor contracts jointly but decided to bargain separately following a falling out over issues and tactics. The current agreement between SAG, AFTRA and AMPTP expires June 30. Peter Chernin, president and COO of News Corp., who played a pivotal role in ending the writers' strike in February, said producers are not seeking a quick fix resolution with AFTRA. He said the studios want a deal that both rewards talent and allows companies to stay economically viable. SAG and AMPTP appeared headed toward an agreement last week after the actors reportedly agreed to drop demands to double royalties paid for DVD, among other provisions. The actors said they would agree to a 15% increase to the 25-year-old DVD residual rate, which pays 3% for TV and 3.6% for movies of the producer' s gross receipts, according to The Los Angeles Times. The DVD residual rate has been a long-running sore point among SAG management. The producers claimed the existing DVD agreement should remain intact since it represented a mature business. ª In such circumstances employers in other industries typically negotiate reductions and efficiencies to reduce costs,º the AMPTP said in a statement. The actors also said they would agree in principle to the deal for new media worked out between the Writers Guild of America and producers in February, notwithstanding 70 changes. Among the alterations is the issue of control and compensation for the use of video clips without an actor' s consent. ª We modified our proposals in an effort to narrow the gap between us, and now we need the AMPTP to do the same,º said Doug Allen, national chief negotiator with SAG. The AMPTP statement said significant differences remained on DVD residuals, streaming and new media use of clips and library material, calling SAG' s demands ª unreasonable.º DVD residuals were figured to play prominently in the writers strike earlier this year but vanished from the bargaining table when producers offered terms on new media the WGA deemed the ª best deal in 30 years.º TINA SINATRA RECALLS A LEGEND By Craig Modderno arner Home Video May 13 releases five separate Frank Sinatra film collections, which include 11 new-to-DVD movies. The Chairman of the Board' s youngest daughter, Tina, talks about the work of her legendary father. I HM: What is it about your father and his work that stands the test of time? Sinatra: His sense of self and style in everything he did ¼ and that he did it all so well. I HM: How involved were you and your siblings with these DVD sets? Sinatra: I am involved in everything we do and don' t do. I HM: What will the new DVDs offer to those unfamiliar with his lesser-known films? W Sinatra: His earlier films are great fun, and he' s so good in them. The MGM years are some of his best. I HM: Did Frank have a favorite among working in music, film and television? Sinatra: His music was the most important part of his life. He would say his family came first ¼ I' d say we were a very close second. I HM: Personally, what is your favorite film of your father' s and why? Sinatra: The Tender Trap ¼ because he' s so silly in it. I like to remember him that way. I HM: When you look back on his whole legacy in music, film, television and fatherhood, what sticks out the most to you? Sinatra: His warmth, self-confidence, humor and style. Illegal Sharer Loses Case Continued from page 1 operated as a BitTorrent search engine that claimed to index more than 1 million Ð often pirated Ð video files. BitTorrent, which has license distribution deals with numerous studios, was not a party to the suit. U.S. District Judge Stephen Wilson found Valence Media liable for copyright infringement, contributory (indirect) infringement and vicarious copyright infringement, whereby someone has a direct financial interest in the infringing actions being committed by another. The permanent injunction prohibits Valence from encouraging, promoting, soliciting or facilitating copyright infringement. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) filed the lawsuit in 2006. ª This substantial money judgment sends a strong message about the illegality of these sites,º said Dan Glickman, chairman and CEO of the MPAA. A representative from Valence was not immediately available for comment. JUST ANNOUNCED A Weekly Product Update* TITLE STREET DATE PREBOOK BOX OFFICE (MILLIONS) GENRE PRICE Step Up 2: The Streets 7/15 6/3 $57.9 Drama DVD $29.99, BD $34.99 Disney. 2008. Briana Evigan, Robert Hoffman, Adam G. Sevani, Cassie Ventura, Telisha Shaw, Will Kemp. An underprivileged girl wins a spot at an elite dance school and partners with the school' s hottest dancer to participate in underground competitions. Persepolis 6/24 5/22 $4.4 Animated DVD $29.95, BD $38.96 Sony Pictures. 2007. Chiara Mastroianni, Catherine Deneuve, Danielle Darrieux. Based on the autobiographical graphic novels by Marjane Satrapi, it follows her experiences as an Iranian woman. Filmed in French, both discs include an English dubbed version with Sean Pean and Iggy Pop. City Slickers: Collector' s Edition 6/3 Now Re-release Comedy DVD $14.98 ESCA Links With ` Home Media' Continued from page 8 TransFORMATions begins June 16 at the nearby Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel, and its paid registrants will gain full access to all morning sessions at the Intercontinental, including ESCA keynotes and panel discussions prior to, but not including, the luncheon June 17. ªWe welcome the management and marketing executives who traditionally frequent Home Media Magazine' s conferences to join the operations, IT and supply chain executives who are the mainstay of the ESCA attendee base on June 17,º said Martin Fox/MGM. 1991. Billy Crystal, Daniel Stern, Bruno Kirby, Jack Palance. Three big-city friends sign up for a two-week cattle drive to overcome their mid-life crises. Includes audio commentary with Crystal, Stern and director Ron Underwood; four featurettes; and deleted scenes. Masters of Horror: Season Two 7/29 6/26 Cable Horror DVD $86.97 Porter, ESCA executive producer. ªT his way we will provide an even wider platform for industry information exchange and an even greater executive audience for our speakers and our sponsors.º Both events are produced in cooperation with DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group, and each requires separate registrations. ESCA attendees who also wish to attend the June 16 portion of TransFORMATions will receive a $100 discount on that show' s registration fee. More information can be found at homemediaconferences.com. Anchor Bay. Features all 13 episodes from the second season of the Showtime series in limited-edition skull packaging. Each one-hour episode is written and directed by some of the best talent in the genre. Includes commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes and more. Permanent Midnight 7/29 7/2 Re-release Comedy DVD $14.98 Lionsgate. 1998. Ben Stiller, Elizabeth Hurley, Maria Bello, Owen Wilson, Fred Willard. Based on the darkly comedic autobiography of Jerry Stahl, it chronicles his success as a TV writer in the 1980s and his fall from grace due to a $5,000-a-week heroin addiction. Cool Hand Luke: Deluxe Edition 9/9 8/5 Re-release Drama DVD $19.97, BD $28.99 Warner. 1967. Paul Newman, Geor http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://homemediaconferences.com

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Home Media Magazine - May 11-17, 2008 Contents News News News News Commentary TV DVD Cine Mercado Reviews Pipeline Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced Christian Entertainment Review Contents Product Profile Talent Profile Retail Profile Reviews New Releases

Home Media Magazine - May 11-17, 2008

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