Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - (Page 1) JANUARY 26–FEBRUARY 1, 2009 >> ELECTRO N IC DELIVERY INSIDE Disney Has No. 1 Kids Site Disney.com is named the biggest kids and family entertainment site of 2008. Best Profits for Apple Apple posted its best-ever quarterly profits, with $1.61 billion. PAGE 13 w w w.HomeMediaMaga zine.c om >> HIGH-DEF Study: 6.5M Not Prepared For Switch to Digital TV INSIDE >> DTV Trouble The digital TV transition sees opposition. >> Eco Screens Green flat-panels to ship more. PAGE 12 Warner to Cut 800 Positions By Erik Gruenwedel SUPPLIER The Dark Knight apparently is no match for the recession. Warner Bros. Jan. 20 said it will cut 800 positions, or 10% of its global staff, across its entertainment divisions in the coming weeks as a result of the ongoing economic downturn. “We are very sad to announce that based on the global economic situation and current business forecasts, the studio will have to make staff reductions in the coming weeks in order to control costs,” wrote Barry Meyer, chairman and chief executive, and Alan Horn, president of the studio, in an e-mail to employees. The cuts, which are occurring across all Hollywood studios, appear to focus on positions earmarked for outsourcing, including management information systems, finance and accounting, among other divisions. The layoffs, which are being made at every level across both corporate and divisional businesses, would likely affect home entertainment as well. Warner Home Video has not formally announced any staff reductions. By Chris Tribbey RESEARCH The Nielsen Company lowered its estimates on the number of homes unprepared for the digital television transition Jan. 22, from 8.8 million to 6.5 million, a marked improvement, but a daunting number of potential no-TV homes as the Feb. 17 digital deadline looms. “Nielsen has been preparing for the transition to digital television for more than two years,” said Nielsen vice chairwoman Susan Whiting. “We’ve been sharing our data with clients, government leaders and the public so they See DTV SWITCH, Page 32 “It is safe to say that they will affect every division of the studio, including home entertainment,” said Warner spokesperson Scott Rowe. Time Warner Inc., parent of Warner Bros., last year shuttered New Line Cinema in a costcutting move. EMA: HOME MEDIA EXPO ON ‘HIATUS’ By Erik Gruenwedel PERCENTAGE OF HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE COMPLETELY UNREADY FOR THE DIGITAL TRANSITION 12% 10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 0% Overall White Black Hispanic Asian Under Age 35 Over Age 55 6.8 5.7 4.6 5.6 4.0 6.9 5.2 10.8 9.9 9.7 8.1 11.5 9.9 8.8 PREPAREDNESS AS OF: I Jan. 18, 2009 I Dec. 21, 2008 Source: The Nielsen Company he Entertainment Merchants Association’s annual Home Media Expo in Las Vegas is taking the year off, with plans to return in 2010. EMA president Bo Andersen said extraordinary circumstances regarding the current economic downturn prompted canceling the video retail community’s annual trade show for the first time in its 27-year existence. “There’s a great deal of uncertainty right now,” he said. “Retailers have travel restrictions. So do the studios.” Andersen said there still exists the need for a singular home entertainment confab that allows studios, suppliers and retailers to meet in its trademark, intimate hotel suite environment. “This has been the premiere event,” he said. “This industry [also] deserves a celebration.” T Best Buy, Wal-Mart Win in Circuit City Demise Analysts say the retailers will benefit from one less player in the CE universe By Erik Gruenwedel RETAIL Best Buy Co. and Wal-Mart Stores could be winners in the liquidation of Circuit City Stores, analysts say. Richmond, Va.-based Circuit City Jan. 16 threw in the towel after 60 years in business, resulting in the liquidation of 567 stores in the Home A R C H Media RESE MARKET SHARE as of 1/18/09 I Blu-ray I DVD Consumers spent $10.56 million on Blu-ray Discs for the week United States and unemployment for 34,000 workers. Despite the dire situation, consumers got minor discounts (from 10% to 20%) rather than the anticipated deep discounts on myriad consumer electronics from Circuit City. Indeed, liquidators such as Great American Group, one of four companies hired to guarantee Circuit City at least a 70.5% return on its wholesale inventory costs, reportedly slapped discounts on suggested retail prices instead of current market prices. Great American denied marking See CIRCUIT CITY, Page 32 Consumers spent $98.37 million on DVDs for the week Blu-ray vs. DVD Sales* 12% 88% Down 11.20% from the previous week * Top 20 unit volume Down 43.55% from the previous week Source: Home Media Research NEWS Trans World Entertainment cuts 25 jobs from its corporate headquarters and will shutter 70 stores. PRODUCT The 81st annual Academy Awards announce their nominations, a few of which are available on DVD. RESEARCH Lionsgate’s The Family That Preys was at the top of the home video sales chart, while Pineapple Express held fast atop rentals. TRANS WORLD ENTERTAINMENT Page 10 Page 28 Page 30 http://www.HomeMediaMagazine.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 Contents News TV DVD Reviews Just Announced Research Top 20 Sellers Top 20 Rentals Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 (Page Cover1) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 (Page Cover2) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 (Page 1) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 (Page 2) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 (Page 3) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 (Page 4) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 (Page 5) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 (Page 6) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - Contents (Page 7) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - Contents (Page 8) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - Contents (Page 9) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - News (Page 10) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - News (Page 11) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - News (Page 12) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - News (Page 13) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - News (Page 14) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - News (Page 15) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - TV DVD (Page 16) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - TV DVD (Page 17) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - Reviews (Page 18) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - Reviews (Page 19) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - Reviews (Page 20) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - Reviews (Page 21) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - Reviews (Page 22) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - Reviews (Page 23) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - Reviews (Page 24) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - Reviews (Page 25) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - Reviews (Page 26) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - Reviews (Page 27) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - Just Announced (Page 28) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - Just Announced (Page 29) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - Top 20 Rentals (Page 30) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - Top 20 Rentals (Page 31) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - Top 20 Rentals (Page 32) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - Top 20 Rentals (Page Cover3) Home Media Magazine - January 26 - February 1, 2009 - Top 20 Rentals (Page Cover4)
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