Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - (Page 10) HIGH-DEF www.homemediamagazine.com Exposition Shows HD Broadcasts Will Get Better By Chris Tribbey OLLYWOOD, Calif. — Amid technical presentations about delivering broadcasts in 1080p Oct. 28 at the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), casual consumers may have been surprised to glean this: Most of the high-definition they see isn’t the best picture available. And it probably won’t be for awhile. The tech-savvy viewers and cinema videophiles have always known this. Nearly all high-def transmissions (satellite, streaming, IPTV) are 720p or 1080i video, often billed as “Full HD,” when that’s not accurate. “We confuse the market, and we confuse the consumers … [it’s] all halftruths,” said Hans Hoffman with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), arguing that current high-def broadcasts can be noticeably deficient in vertical resolution compared to 1080p, “especially when it comes to motion.” Ian Trow, with media company Thomson, agreed the way high-definition is pitched to consumers can be deceiving. “Some customers are certainly aware of the marketing spin,” he said. Despite just a couple of paid service providers — DirectTV and Dish Network PPV/VOD — have just now begun to offer 1080p high-def movies, it’s still not the best the industry can offer, Hoffman said. He said the broadcast industry needs to start BRIEFS I BLU-RAY HITS 1K Blu-ray Disc has hit a big milestone: More than 1,000 Blu-ray discs are either on the market (841) or scheduled for release (185), according to The DVD Release Report. – Thomas K. Arnold of flat-panel screens. With U.S. flat-panel sales on track to reach nearly 30 million shipments this year, many consumers are shopping for smaller screens, between 32-inch and 42-inch. – Erik Gruenwedel H laying the groundwork for giving consumers video with higher frame rates. Frame rate is the measure for how many consecutive images are produced per second. For example, Blu-ray Disc content is streamed at 1080p24 (24 frames per second), the long-standing exposure rate for 35 mm cameras. Hoffman and other SMPTE speakers say the industry’s future may well lie in delivering 1080p5060, something more and more new HDTVs can handle. Indeed, the Digital Video Broadcasting Project (DVB), an international digital delivery standards group, has expressed its support for the broadcast of higher frame rates, Hoffman said, along with the people behind the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 compression used for Blu-ray (the Video Coding Experts Group and Moving Picture Experts Group, or MPEG). “ … A lot of people who see 1080i see the picture quality is compromised by those frame rates,” Trow said. But a lot is standing in the way of broadcasting the best highdef around to consumers. Many See HIGH-DEFINITION, Page 24 I REPORT: EURO BD PLAYER SHIPMENTS TO TRIPLE Shipments of standalone Blu-ray players in Western Europe are expected to triple to 1.8 million units by the end of 2009 despite current economic woes, according to a new report from Futuresource Consulting. The London-based research firm said unemployment, falling house prices, low wage growth and faltering business confidence are hallmarks of a declining global economy that also portend a rosier outlook for home entertainment. Characterizing consumers as beset with a “staycation attitude,” the report says electronics purchases of Blu-ray players, flat-panel TVs and smart phones offer a better long-term value proposition compared to dining out, going to the movies or taking a vacation. The report cited economic slumps between 1980 and 1983, and in 2001, which revealed that sales of VCRs in the United Kingdom rocketed 440% in the early ’80s, while sales of digital cameras and DVD players continued to grow sharply after 2000. “In times of economic hardship, we’ve seen consumer electronics and in-home entertainment weather the storm; indeed, expenditure in these segments can even increase,” said Sarah Carroll, director of strategy and continuous services at Futuresource. One concession to the economy: size I GIANT INTERACTIVE UPS FACILITIES, BD TEAM Compression and authoring house Giant Interactive is beefing up its facilities and its Blu-ray team this month at its Los Angeles facility. Executive producer Jeffrey Eagle and supervising producer Allie Rosenzweig will head the company’s newly created Original Programming division, which will handle original productions and digital media, in addition to DVD and Blu-ray Disc. The company will roll out two A&E titles on Blu-ray Nov. 18: the first season of “Universe” and Paul McCartney: The Space Within Us. CBS and HBO also will use Giant for Blu-ray work, the company said, and Walt Disney Studios and Lionsgate are among those working on projects for broadcast. “We at Giant Interactive see Blu-ray not only as the successor to DVD, but as a marvelous challenge to give our clients a whole new way of looking at interactive digital content,” said Giant president Jeff Stabenau. – Chris Tribbey REPORT: SEARS PLANS ‘BLU FRIDAY’ SPECIALS Book of Secrets, 3:10 to Yuma and Don’t ears, Roebuck and Co. plans to Mess With the Zohan, among others, substantially slash prices on select ranging in price from $3.99 to $18.99. Blu-ray players, movies and stanOther electronics markdowns include dard DVD on Black Friday — the day-after the Sylvania LC420SS8 42-inch LCD HDTV Thanksgiving sales for $699.99, the Sharp fest, according to LC46SB54U 46-inch discount reporting 1080p LCD HDTV Web site BFAds.net. Samsung Profile 1.1 BD-P1500 player for $899.99 and a Among the 685 Samsung 1080p upitems Sears will offer on sale Nov. 28 are converting DVD player for $49.99, down the Samsung Profile 1.1 BD-P1500 player from its online price of $79.99. for $199.99, down 22% from $249.99, A representative from Sears was not and the Sony Profile 1.1 BDP-S350 for available for comment by press time. $179.99, compared to $299.99 online. Wal-Mart on Black Friday in 2003 helped Both players are BD Live compatible with supplant DVD into the public consciousa firmware upgrade. ness and transform packaged media as DVDs and Blu-ray titles, which include a commodity with the availability of a Sleeping Beauty, 300, National Treasure: $29.99 player made in China. By Erik Gruenwedel S I UFC GOES BLU First Look Studios Nov. 18 will release the first UFC title on Blu-ray Disc, Ultimate Comebacks, which consists of more than four hours of hardcore fighting footage. Featured bouts include Pete Sell vs. Scott Smith and Martin Kampmann vs. Drew McFedries. – Thomas K. Arnold TOP 20 HIGH-DEF BLU-R AY D ISC Week ended October 26, 2008 LABEL INDEX* TOP 20 HIGH-DEF B D M A R K E T S HA R E Percentage of Sales Per Title vs DVD Week ended October 26, 2008 LABEL PERCENT TITLE TITLE B LU-R AY D I S C C O M I NG U P STREETING A Christmas Story Warner Street Date: 11/4 Futurama: Bender’s Game Fox Street Date: 11/4 Get Smart Warner Street Date: 11/4 Lonely Hearts Sony Pictures Street Date: 11/4 Monster’s Ball Lionsgate Street Date: 11/4 Planet of the Apes: 40th Fox Street Date: 11/4 PREBOOKING The Mummy: Tomb of the Universal Pre: 11/4, Street: 12/16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7(tie) 7(tie) 9 10 11 12(tie) 12(tie) 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 The Incredible Hulk Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the … Iron Man The Strangers Sleeping Beauty: 50th Anniversary Platinum … The Ultimate Matrix Collection Casino Royale: Collector’s Edition Transformers Sweeney Todd James Bond Blu-ray Vol. One I Am Legend Halloween James Bond Blu-ray Vol. Two The Happening 300 The Nightmare Before Christmas Planet Earth: The Complete Series Forgetting Sarah Marshall You Don’t Mess With the Zohan Sex and the City: The Movie *Units sold compared to No. 1 title Universal 100.00 Paramount 23.90 Paramount 17.90 Universal 8.93 Disney 5.01 Warner 3.34 Sony Pictures 3.11 Para./DreamWorks 3.11 Para./DreamWorks 2.60 Fox/MGM 2.36 Warner 2.34 Genius/Weinstein 2.32 Fox/MGM 2.32 Fox 1.88 Warner 1.81 Disney 1.76 BBC Video 1.75 Universal 1.51 Sony Pictures 1.43 Warner 1.28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 The Ultimate Matrix Collection Sweeney Todd The Departed Casino Royale: Collector’s Edition 300 Planet Earth: The Complete Series I Am Legend Transformers Halloween Batman Begins The Incredible Hulk The Nightmare Before Christmas Iron Man Sleeping Beauty: 50th Anniversary Platinum … Forgetting Sarah Marshall Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the … The Strangers You Don’t Mess With the Zohan The Happening Sex and the City: The Movie Warner 97.65% Para./DreamWorks 69.85% Warner 57.35% Sony Pictures 48.74% Warner 44.91% BBC Video 43.20% Warner 36.81% Para./DreamWorks 30.50% Genius/Weinstein 29.69% Warner 29.51% Universal 18.98% Disney 15.77% Paramount 15.61% Disney 9.98% Universal 8.92% Paramount 8.74% Universal 7.11% Sony Pictures 6.68% Fox 6.17% Warner 2.97% Source: Nielsen VideoScan First Alert data Source: Nielsen VideoScan First Alert data Home Media Magazine November 2–8, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://www.BFAds.net
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 Home Media Magazine - November 2, 2008 Contents News News News TV DVD Independent Film Reviews Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced Christian Entertainment Review Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - November 2, 2008 (Page Cover1) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - November 2, 2008 (Page Cover2) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - November 2, 2008 (Page 1) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - November 2, 2008 (Page 2) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - November 2, 2008 (Page 3) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - November 2, 2008 (Page 4) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - November 2, 2008 (Page 5) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - November 2, 2008 (Page 6) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - Contents (Page 7) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - News (Page 8) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - News (Page 9) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - News (Page 10) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - News (Page 11) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - News (Page 12) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - TV DVD (Page 13) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - Independent Film (Page 14) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - Independent Film (Page 15) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - Reviews (Page 16) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - Reviews (Page 17) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - Reviews (Page 18) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - Reviews (Page 19) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - Top 20 DVD Sellers (Page 20) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - Top 20 DVD Sellers (Page 21) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 22) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 23) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 24) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 25) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 26) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 27) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 28) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - Just Announced (Page Cover3) Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - Just Announced (Page Cover4)
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