Home Media Magazine - November 2-November 8, 2008 - (Page 24) NEWS High-Definition Could Get Better Continued from page 10 www.homemediamagazine.com HDTVs already in households “can’t cope” with 1080p50-60 signals, Hoffman said, and most current receivers and set-top boxes will only output to 1080i. And that all may be putting the cart before the horse — the ability to get 1080p50-60 to homes is still problematic. Trow wrote in an August paper studying MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 that it had “adequate picture quality … for both 720p and 1080i broadcast applications at bit rates ranging from 8 Mbps to 12 Mbps.” The current infrastructure can easily handle 720p, in terms of delivering quality with available bandwidth. To get 1080p50-60 quality to consumers, however, Hoffman said broadcasters would have to deliver content (and consumers would have to receive it) at a higher bit rate. Currently most content providers would need a huge investment in the United States to guarantee what would be needed, based on current compression tools, Hoffman speculated. SMPTE has created a committee to address these issues. And then there’s consumer interest. If not enough paying customers notice the differences between 720p, 1080i, and 1080p, why should broadcasters buy new high-def equipment and invest in better infrastructure? “What we present,” Hoffman said, “must be really perceptible.” Mark Sauerwald, technical marketing manager for National Semiconductor Corp., said the biggest obstacle between high-def fans and having more than PPV movies in 1080p50-60 is money. “Within the video industry, they’re very conservative,” he said. “… They need to lay out more fiber optics instead of copper, but the cost to do it is the obstacle that needs to be overcome. Fiber tends to work better over longer distances for cable companies, and has less signal degradation than copper cable, but is very expensive in comparison. The delivery of 1080p content on Dish Network did earn a thumbs up from Sound & Vision Magazine reporter Brent Butterworth earlier this month. While not as crisp as the picture in Bluray, and without the advanced audio offerings for Blu-ray, Butterworth was impressed by the fact it was a viable high-def option. When announcing the service this summer, Dish Network touted their trend-setting changes: “Our latest system upgrade coupled with the introduction of TurboHD further strengthens our position as the leader in digital television and high-definition television,” said Charlie Ergen, Dish Network chairman, CEO and president. “We know that once consumers start watching their favorite TV shows in high-definition, their viewing habits change and their preference switches to allHD programming.” But while Dish is using the MPEG-4 AVC/ H.264 to transmit all its content — standard and high-definition — something new might be needed to compress content and keep available bandwidth from disappearing. “The aim is to be able to provide a sufficientenough image quality difference [between] 720p or 1080i,” Hoffman said. “It is possible … [but] with cable I fear it won’t happen.” Panelists Say Industry Won’t Suffer Continued from page 1 aggregators has become low. “If you’re around four or five years from now, that’s good. Flat is the new up.” Lori Schwartz, SVP and director of emerging media for the Interpublic Emerging Media Lab, said successful digital-delivery companies have acknowledged “the consumer is the new editor.” “Talk to anyone under 30 at my office, and they don’t subscribe to cable or satellite,” she said. “They utilize broadband, watching YouTube or Hulu. Older demographics are much more niche in their activity.” Seth Shapiro, principal of consulting firm New Amsterdam Media, argued that while younger, tech-savvy people may be the key demo targeted by advertisers, “small boutique players still have a life because they can offer niche product.” He added that the home entertainment industry should be praised for embracing new digital delivery venues. “The worst mistake the music industry ever made was [to] kick Napster, instead of embracing it,” he said. Shapiro also was intrigued with new advertising and marketing opportunities available via Blu-ray Disc and BD Live, suggesting that consumer tie-ins could be used when new material is available for a movie or TV show. But Daley cautioned that advertisers are still trying to get a bead on how much online advertising, in its varying forms, is actually worth. “What everyone wants to do is land the plane on social media and find out what is the [return on investment]?” he said. “People who use Facebook aren’t stupid, and they don’t want irrelevant content. … Companies that have a purpose, that have an audience … will do well.” Analyst: Uni Policy Is ‘Outrageous’ Continued from page 1 CLASSIFIED SHOWCASE BUSINESS SERVICES PA C K A G I N G and violate antitrust laws. Fellow kiosk operators TNR Entertainment and DVD Play have both sought legal advice regarding the changes, and the presidents of both companies have expressed concerns about how they would affect their businesses. “Our initial review of Universal’s policy change is that it will adversely affect [our] commitment [to consumers],” TNR’s president and CEO Tim Belton said. Chuck Berger, chairman, president and CEO of DVD Play, said he’s concerned Universal is trying to “freeze out the kiosk channel.” “We plan on having Universal titles in our kiosks,” he said, adding that DVD Play had been contacted by supplier VPD, which had been contacted by Universal. “We’d find a way to get those titles. We’re not going to deny the users what Universal wants to deny them, and that’s an affordable DVD rental option.” Fred Von Lohmann, an attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said he believes Universal’s policies are a losing proposition. “The word outrageous comes to mind,” he said. “And I think consumers should be the ones most concerned about this. If this is permitted, it’s hard to see how anyone would want to invest in these new businesses if studios can go in and shut you down.” Von Lohmann said nothing would stop kiosk operators from buying Universal DVDs at retail on street dates, or going through “a middle man.” But the added costs and hassles would hurt. He calls Universal’s new revenuesharing terms “a very cunning strategy” but forecasts the studio will lose the Redbox suit. “It’s like back in the ’80s when they went after mom-and-pop video stores … it’s the same can of worms they’ve been working on since [VHS],” he said. If Redbox wins, he added it could “undermine Universal’s ability to manage its copyrights.” However, if Universal prevails, “What would ever put pressure on Hollywood to bring prices down for things like video-on-demand? Nothing would,” Von Lohmann said. P E O P LE USED TAPES & DVDS I SONY PICTURES TAPS VILLAROS AND SOCHKO Joan Villaros has been promoted to executive director of operations for Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Her new position involves leading newrelease productions. Villaros’ Villaros past positions included operations for Herbalife International and Technicolor Home Entertainment/Panasonic Disc Services Corp. Greg Sochko has also joined Sony Pictures as executive director of sales. He has worked Sochko with Best Buy, GoodTimes Entertainment, Simitar Entertainment and, most recently, New Line Home Entertainment. – Laleh Ghalambor I PARAMOUNT UPS PACACHA Paramount Home Entertainment has promoted Marguerite Pacacha to EVP of business affairs and legal. She now manages business affairs and legal for all areas of Paramount Home Entertainment, including acquisitions, marketing, sales and distribution, co-productions and operations. Pacacha joined ParaPacacha mount in 2000 as VP of business affairs and business development for pay television and home entertainment and most recently served as SVP of business affairs and legal for the domestic home entertainment division. – Billy Gil REDUCING YOUR INVENTORY? CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MAKES DOLLARS AND SENSE! FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Kurt Wohlman (714) 338-6749 kwohlman@questex.com www.homemediamagazine.com We Buy VHS, and also DVD & Video Games xtreme deo E 733-7370 (203) Vi Home Media Magazine November 2–8, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://www.corporate.com http://www.rapidrental.com http://www.homemediamagazine.com
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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