Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - (Page 4) NEWS BRIEFS I I.TV INTEGRATES NETFLIX RENTALS Media guidance service provider i.TV is integrating online rental service Netflix into its TV and movie guide for Apple’s iPhone and iPod touch. i.TV users can sign up for a Netflix account or link an existing account, giving iPhone and iPod touch users access to Netflix’s rental service, their personal queues, program information, ratings, cast credits and recommendations. i.TV is available as a free download from the iPhone App Store. – Billy Gil er, to be released theatrically Dec. 12 and on DVD in 2009. Basinger stars as a suburban housewife hunted by young thugs and left to fend for her life with only a toolbox. The film also features Lukas Haas and was executive produced by Guillermo del Toro (director of the “Hellboy” films and Pan’s Labyrinth). – Billy Gil www.homemediamagazine.com Best Buy Cites Fiscal ‘Uncertainty’ By Erik Gruenwedel difficult times for the consumer,” said Brian Dunn, RETAIL The other shoe fell on consumer electronics president and COO of Best Buy. “People are making when market leader Best Buy Co. Nov. 12 said it would dramatic changes in how much they spend, and we’re lower its fiscal-2009 earnings and revenue guidance. not immune from those forces.” The retailer said same-store (open at least 14 months) The company said it was adjusting discretionary sales in October declined 7.6%, following a 2.4% de- spending and inventory, and having discussions with cline in September. Through the curkey vendors. rent third quarter, Best Buy is on pace «IN 42 YEARS OF RETAILING, “We can’t change the overall level to drop 4.7% in same-store sales. of consumer spending, but we can WE’VE NEVER SEEN SUCH In addition Best Buy reported focus on deepening our relationships DIFFICULT TIMES FOR THE “uncertainty regarding consumer with customers wherever we interact CONSUMER» spending” entering the critical holiwith them,” said Brad Anderson, vice BRIAN DUNN, day shopping season brought on by PRESIDENT AND COO, BEST BUY chairman and CEO. “seismic changes” in the financial Dunn said Best Buy would continue markets and macroeconomic climate had limited its to focus on a consumer-centric retail strategy not followed ability to project revenue through the end of the year. by Circuit City. “Given recent announcements by competiThe retailer said same-store sales to the end of the fis- tors, we believe we have even greater potential to serve new cal year next February could fall from 5% to 15%, with customers and capture market share,” he said. global revenue from $43.7 billion to $45.5 billion. Analyst Stacey Widlitz with Pali Capital in New York Best Buy is a central player in consumer adoption of said Best Buy’s earnings range was so wide “you can run Blu-ray, and considered the largest retailer of Blu-ray a truck through it.” The analyst said shrinking credit availmovies, with more than 800 titles. able to consumers by their credit card holders could have The news comes just days after No. 2 CE retailer a negative impact on HDTV sales, which she said are 80% Circuit City Stores filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy purchased with credit cards and represent 25% of Best protection. Buy’s revenue. “Credit may be the new Grinch that stole “In 42 years of retailing, we’ve never seen such Christmas,” Widlitz wrote in a note. I GENIUS SEEKS FILING DELAY Genius Products, which is 70% owned by The Weinstein Co., Nov. 10 said it had requested a third-quarter (ended Sept. 30) filing extension with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Santa Monica, Calif.-based Genius, however, said it would announce the quarterly report results Nov. 17. The company last month said it would restate consolidated financial statements for six quarters and two fiscal-year periods. – Erik Gruenwedel I DISNEY LAUNCHES NEW EDUCATIONAL TOOLS A new series of accredited educational programming is now available on DVD from Disney Educational Productions, a division of Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. The series, “The Science of Disney Imagineering,” has three titles to help students learn about Trajectory, Gravity, and Levers and Pulleys. The lessons demonstrate how these scientific principles apply to thrill rides, roller coasters and other amusement park attractions. Additional educational products include two new literacy programs based on the C.S. Lewis books The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. All titles are $49.95 each and are available at disneyeducation.com as well as Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. – Kyra Kudick I RESTRUCTURING HURTS MACROVISION EARNINGS DVD copy protection software manufacturer Macrovision on Nov. 7 said ongoing restructuring after the May acquisition of Gemstar and sales of several related businesses contributed to a 37% decline in net income for the third quarter (ended Sept. 30). The Santa Clara, Calif.-based technology firm reported income of $8.8 million on revenue of $112.2 million, compared to a profit of $14.1 million and revenue of $45.6 million during the prior-year period. Company executives said revenue benefited from the sales of its software and games divisions in April, and discontinued operations of TV Guide magazine, TV Guide Network, TVG Network and related online businesses. – Erik Gruenwedel Cinram Profit Plummets By Erik Gruenwedel inram International reported third-quarter (ended Sept. 30) net income of $1.5 million, down 95% from income of $34.8 million during the prior-year period, despite replicating 1 million more DVDs than in that period. The Toronto-based replication company said DVD replication rev- I ANCHOR BAY NABS ‘WHILE SHE WAS OUT’ AT AFM Anchor Bay Entertainment has secured distribution rights for the suspense thriller While She Was Out, starring Kim Basing- enue fell 1% to $284 million, from $286 million, due in part to lower retail selling prices and high-definition replication revenue declining nearly 58% to $2.2 million, from $5.2 million last year when it also replicated rival format HD DVD. Cinram said it replicated 300 million DVD discs, representing 61% of its business, in the quarter, com- pared to 299 million (64%) last year. The company reported a 32% increase in video game disc revenue to $26.5 million (6% of business), from $20.1 million (4%) last year. Music CD replication revenue fell 21% to $52.2 million (11% of business), compared to $65.3 million (15%) last year. Overall revenue increased 3.7% to $467 million, from $450 million last year. PEOPLE I SONY PICTURES UPS ORNE Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has promoted Mark Orne to executive director of worldwide market research. He will report to Jane Mohon, VP of worldOrne wide media, digital marketing, market research and national promotions. – Billy Gil for Universal. Sandy Choi has been upped to VP of new-release brand marketing. The position involves focusing on new feature film titles from Universal Pictures, as well as the company’s DVD Original line of directto-video movies. Paige Lewis has been named the new VP of family marketing and will lead marketing efforts for family titles including new theatrical, catalog, TV and DVD original titles. Robert Read has transitioned to a new role as VP of HD strategic marketing and franchise management, supervising Bluray Disc strategy non-theatrical global franchise management; he previously served at Universal Pictures International Entertainment in London. – Laleh Ghalambor THEATRICAL HITS-ON-DVD ANNUAL SCORECARD: 2005 - 2008* New theatrical films that generate at least $25 million in box-office receipts are a precious commodity. Because there are only so many theaters and weeks to open films — and only so many paying customers — the number of hit films is not suddenly going to jump to 150 or 200 films in a single year, but generally hovers around the 100 mark annually. How the studios manage this inventory is always a concern. This year we have an exceptionally strong showing, with 105 such films making the transition to DVD during the year. That’s up from last year’s output of just 97 films that fit the profile. — Ralph Tribbey Studio Warner Sony Pictures Universal 20th Century Fox Disney Lionsgate Paramount New Line DreamWorks Genius Products HBO MGM Combined 2005 20 13 13 12 15 3 10 5 5 2006 13 18 15 17 12 3 11 5 7 3 1 105 3 99 2007 12 16 13 10 12 4 7 8 8 5 1 1 97 2008 18 16 16 15 10 9 8 6 4 3 I UNIVERSAL TAPS FOUR VPS OF MARKETING Universal Studios Home Entertainment has named new VPs in four divisions. Jeff Ackermann has been promoted to VP of TV and catalog marketing. He previously served as director of TV marketing I RELEASE ACTIVITY FOR DVD Titles in Release Through Week Ended Nov. 7, 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total Net DVD Titles Announced and/or In Release Through March 31, 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92,494+364 93,015+305 I RELEASE ACTIVITY FOR BLU-RAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . As of Week Ended Nov. 7 Released 880 Scheduled 177 Home Media Magazine November 16–22, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://www.disneyeducation.com http://www.Amazon.com http://www.BarnesandNoble.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 Home Media Magazine - November 16, 2008 Contents News HD-3 TV DVD Valentine’s Day Reviews Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - November 16, 2008 (Page Cover1) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - November 16, 2008 (Page Cover2) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - November 16, 2008 (Page 1) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - November 16, 2008 (Page 2) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - Contents (Page 3) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - News (Page 4) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - News (Page 5) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - News (Page 6) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - News (Page 7) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - HD-3 (Page 8) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - HD-3 (Page 9) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - HD-3 (Page 10) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - HD-3 (Page 11) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - HD-3 (Page 12) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - HD-3 (Page 13) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - TV DVD (Page 14) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - TV DVD (Page 15) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - Valentine’s Day (Page 16) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - Valentine’s Day (Page 17) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - Valentine’s Day (Page 18) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - Valentine’s Day (Page 19) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - Reviews (Page 20) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - Reviews (Page 21) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - Reviews (Page 22) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - Reviews (Page 23) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - Top 20 DVD Sellers (Page 24) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - Top 20 DVD Sellers (Page 25) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 26) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 27) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 28) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 29) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 30) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 31) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 32) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - Just Announced (Page Cover3) Home Media Magazine - November 16-22, 2008 - Just Announced (Page Cover4)
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