Home Media Magazine - June 29 - July 5, 2008 - (Page 40)

NEWS www.homemediamagazine.com It’s ‘Howdy Doody’ on DVD for the First Time By Kyra Kudick PRODUCT It’s “Howdy Doody” time — again. Mill Creek Entertainment, known for its value line of DVDs, has cut a deal with NBC Universal Television, DVD, Music and Consumer Products Group to release 40 of 126 licensed episodes of “The Howdy Doody Show.” It marks the first time the classic children’s television show, which went on the air in 1947, has been available on DVD. Mill Creek will release the initial 40-episode collection in a five-disc boxed set Nov. 4 at a suggested retail price of $29.98. A total of nine DVD compilations are planned in the coming months. “A generation of Americans grew up watching ‘Howdy Doody,’” said Ian Warfield, president and COO of Mill Creek Entertainment. “We’re so pleased that through Mill Creek’s deal with NBC we are able to bring these classic shows to viewers who enjoyed watching ‘Howdy Doody’ growing up, their children and their grandchildren today on DVD.” When “The Howdy Doody Show” debuted on TV more than 60 years ago, only 20,000 American homes had TV sets, and NBC only had stations in six TV markets. The show was credited as a major factor in the subsequent growth of NBC. A total of 2,543 episodes were produced before the final episode aired Dec. 30, 1960. Vivendi Acquires Ben Stein’s ‘Expelled’; EMA Awards Stein By Angelique Flores PRODUCT Ben Stein was honored last week with the Entertainment Merchants Association’s Freedom of Expression Award for his expositions of his economic and political beliefs, which often run contrary to those of mainstream Hollywood. Stein exhibits his staunch support for freedom of expression in Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, produced by Premise Media. Vivendi Entertainment has acquired home entertainment distribution rights to the film and will distribute the title through TV, digital and video channels. The DVD streets Oct. 21. Stein, whose resume includes actor, filmmaker, writer, economist and lawyer, hosts and co-wrote Expelled. The documentary examines the conflict between advocates of intelligent design and evolutionists, and the hostility of the scientific community toward scientists who embrace intelligent design. Expelled is just as much about freedom of speech as it is about the theories of intelligent design and Darwinism, Stein said. “I’ve always been concerned about freedom of speech,” he said. In the film, Stein even gets renowned atheist Richard Dawkins to (L-R): John Sullivan, executive producer of Expelled; star and co-writer Stein; and Tom O’Malley, president of Vivendi Entertainment, gathered at Vivendi’s suite. agree with him on certain points in regards to intelligent design. “I used my experience as a lawyer,” he said. Later, Vivendi will release a spe- cial two-disc set of Expelled, which will include more interviews and behind-the-scenes footage, according to the film’s executive producer, John Sullivan. ‘Happy Days’ in Vegas Kiosk Companies at HME Continued from page 6 its technology to iMozi, which unveiled its digital and physical rental/ sellthrough kiosk at the show. This is the first kiosk for the company to offer both physical and digital content, including video content and video games. The kiosks offer in-store burning or physical product in its original packaging. Additionally, titles can be reserved at iMozi kiosks online. “The key in the business is to [not just depend on] new release,” said Jay Dadrass, product development manager for iMozi. “It’s a newrelease business, but with DVD ondemand, you don’t have to worry about that.” Eric Zetlin of MOD Systems, which had a speaker at the Digital Retail Business Models panel at the show, said his company, like other kiosk players, is looking for more video content for its digital media distribution software (it currently features mostly music). Zetlin said MOD has “tiertwo” content, with catalog and special interest video, and is looking to also move into game delivery. MOD Systems is a software company, but the company also developed and distributes “PODs,” which include touchscreens, USB ports for digital distribution, headphone jacks, a magnetic card reader, a bar code scanner and Ethernet support. Videomatic, a European company now making inroads in the United States, also displayed its automatic video and game dispensers at the show. Videomatic has four U.S. stores as of the end of June. Videomatic machines are akin to an ATM, capable of holding more than 2,000 discs, including movies (all genres, including adult) and games. Discs are rented or bought by becoming a member of the store in question, then swiping the membership card at the machine; Salinas’ Laredo store, for example, has 14 screens, capable of renting more than 10,000 discs, according to Salinas. “The video business is a little bit stale to retailers and to customers,” Salinas said. “What we’ve been doing is taking it to the next level. We’re still video stores, but we’re automated.” Salinas said he was able to build his Videomatic store from scratch, using only 2,000 square feet and two additional employees, versus the other, traditional video store he owns, which takes up 5,000 square feet and has eight employees. “Every major cost category, you cut,” he said. The new store registers members in the back, where parents can set parental controls, and ratings are enforced on kiosks via the registered memberships. An added bonus is that renters wanting adult titles, for example, don’t deal with clerks directly. Salinas said that has resulted in an increase in female renters of adult content. Another plus for kiosks, according to multiple Videomatic purveyors, is its 24-hour service. “Why wait until 10 a.m. for Blockbuster to open up across the street?” Salinas said. TV legends Anson Williams (left) and Don Most autographed copies of Most’s Moola, Photo by: Joe Coomber on DVD from Allumination FilmWorks. JUST ANNOUNCED A Weekly Product Update* TITLE STREET DATE PREBOOK BOX OFFICE (MILLIONS) GENRE PRICE The Forbidden Kingdom 9/9 8/13 $52.1 Action DVD $29.95 Lionsgate. 2008. Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Collin Chou, Liu Yifei, Li Bing Bing. The film that brought together martial arts stars Jackie Chan and Jet Li includes commentary, “The Kung Fu Dream Team” featurette and deleted scenes. Also available in a two-disc set (DVD $34.98, BD $39.99). Street Kings 8/19 7/23 $26.4 Thriller DVD $29.98, BD $39.98 Fox. 2008. Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie, Chris Evans, The Game, Common. A veteran cop searches for justice by solving the murder of his former partner. Special features include a making-of featurette and deleted/alternate scenes. Also available in a two-DVD set ($34.98). Married Life 9/2 7/31 $1.5 Drama DVD $28.96, BD $38.96 Sony Pictures. 2008. Rachel McAdams, Chris Cooper, Pierce Brosnan, Patricia Clarkson, David Richmond-Peck. A young mistress causes a rift between a man, his devoted wife and his best friend. Includes three alternate endings and director commentary. Sarah Landon and the Paranormal Hour 9/9 8/7 $0.9 Thriller DVD $24.96 Sony Pictures. 2007. Rissa Walters, Kurt Braun, Brian Comrie, Dan Comrie. With the death of her best friend, a young girl visits her friend’s grandmother and discovers the town’s dark secret and finds herself in the middle of a haunting mystery. Includes “Frida’s Psychic Readings Game.” Postal 8/26 7/29 DTV Comedy DVD $26.99, BD $34.99 Vivendi. 2007. Zack Ward, Dave Foley, J.K. Simmons, Jackie Tohn, Larry Thomas, Verne Troyer, Erick Avari. In a spoof of the American way of life, a cult leader and his nephew take on the Taliban. All versions of the DVD include Postal 2: Share the Pain, a PC video game. Taking 5 9/9 8/7 DTV Comedy DVD $24.96 Sony Pictures. 2007. Daniella Monet, Alona Tal. The Click Five star as boy-band pop stars that are kidnapped by two best friends who want them to perform at their high school dance, redeeming their shattered reputations. Includes a music video and behind-the-scenes featurette. * In order of box office, then prebook date Home Media Magazine June 29–July 5, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com

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Home Media Magazine - June 29 - July 5, 2008

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