Home Media Magazine - June 29 - July 5, 2008 - (Page 1)

JUNE 29–JULY 5, 2008 The Entertainment Merchants Association held its Home Entertainment Awards Show last week in Las Vegas. (L-R): Award winners actors Paul Petersen, Cam Gigandet, Jose Davis and Pauly Shore, with awards show host Photographer: Joe Coomber Jamie Kennedy and another award-winner director John Chu. SHOW WRAP BRINGING DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT TO YOU Blockbuster’s Keyes Has Big Plans to Transform Chain We pulled back on our inventory, which put By Erik Gruenwedel AS VEGAS — Blockbuster Inc. CEO more pressure on us economically, and we pushed hard on studio supJim Keyes sat down pliers, which put pressure with Home Media Magon them economically. As a azine to discuss the future result, we had sizable gross of his company following his profit percentages, but we appearance on the panel durdidn’t have inventory. ing EMA’s Home Media Expo If the studio looks at VOD opening business session. versus physical rental, and they I HM: Many studios, especially say they can make 70% margin those that own cable TV operations, on VOD and 30% on physiwant to bury traditional DVD rental with same-day VOD. How do you Keyes at the opening session. cal, my response is: Would you rather make 70% on 3% of the deal with your suppliers trying to demand or would you rather make 50% on 40% eliminate you at the same time? Keyes: I understand their position. The ap- of the demand? So let’s talk. If they can help me proach we have had in the past as we were satisfy the customer, I can pay more margin. pressured economically is we did two things: See KEYES, Page 13 A program heavy on Blu-ray presentations gets high marks, while some say the venue doesn’t By Erik Gruenwedel AS VEGAS — Against a backdrop that underscored Blu-ray Disc as the future of packaged media, the Entertainment Merchants Association’s Home Media Expo 2008 showcased the challenges and opportunities of the industry. Flat and declining DVD revenue this year apparently resulted in a downsized show, where attendees appeared more focused on business, networking and breakout sessions than general assemblies. The opening session and awards presentation saw declining attendance despite the presence of a keynote panel representing content, hardware and retail senior executives that Bo Andersen, CEO of the EMA, called one of the best show openers ever. Panel moderator Thomas K. Arnold, publisher and editorial director of Home Media Magazine, said consumer adoption of Blu-ray exceeded that of standard DVD during its early days 11 years ago and that it was “only a matter of time” before a complete transition occurs. Expo: Different Shades of Blu L L Blu-ray, Digital Biz Session Focus By Erik Gruenwedel AS VEGAS — With an introduction consisting of about 15 minutes of trailers for upcoming Blu-ray Disc releases, there was little doubt about the next-generation format’s role in the opening session of Home Media Expo 2008. Entertainment Merchants Association president Bo Andersen said Blu-ray and digital mean consumers’ ability to watch movies “just got better.” He downplayed cries that the sky was falling on DVD and that digital entertainment and social networking sites Facebook and YouTube would steal the youth away from packaged media. “It simply isn’t true,” Andersen said. See OPENING, Page 12 L “I think it is going to be huge,” said panelist Mike Dunn, president of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. “The momentum is there; you see it in the first couple quarters of the year. Every title is selling double what the last [Blu-ray] title did.” Unfortunately, more attendees couldn’t share in that enthusiasm at the awards show; a situation Andersen blamed on scheduling. “Too many people scheduled dinners and events that conflicted,” he said of the half-full Pearl Theatre. “Scheduling will be an important factor going forward.” Andersen praised the Palms Hotel and Casino for creating an intimate show setting that he said resulted in a cohesive atmosphere with studio and distributor suites that were “new” and “intriguing.” “It felt like we owned the place,” he said. Special presentations from Allumination FilmWorks, Summit Entertainment, 20th Century Fox and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on digital distribution and BD Live, See EMA, Page 20 Photo by: Joe Coomber Home A R C H Media RESE MAR KET S HAR E 6% as of 6/22/08 I Blu-ray I DVD Consumers spent $123.46 million on DVDs for the week Blu-ray vs. DVD Sales* Consumers spent $8.48 million on Blu-ray Discs for the week (L-R): Panelists Eisuke Tsuyuzaki, Panasonic; James McQuivey, Forrester Research; Jim Keyes, CEO, Blockbuster; and Mike Dunn, president, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. Down 22.94% from the previous week. * Top 20 unit volume 94% Down 33.41% from the previous week. Source: Home Media Research Photos by: Joe Coomber NEWS Don Most, Josie Davis, Charlene Tilton and others discuss their famous roles and shows at EMA’s TV panel. RESEARCH The title may be Fool’s Gold, but Warner’s latest hit is the real McCoy, taking the top spots on both DVD sales and rentals. Page 6 Page 36

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Home Media Magazine - June 29 - July 5, 2008

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