Uncategorized

MESA News – Mar. 20

Studios/Suppliers 

Former New Yorker label starts own distribution
By Cindy Spielvogel – 03/20/2009
MARCH 20 | Yella will be Cinema Guild’s first release More

Opinion: Disc vs. Web
By Paul Sweeting – 03/20/2009
Paul Sweeting is editor of Content Agenda
MARCH 20 | How threatened, really, is the success of Blu-ray Disc by the prospect of high-definition digital downloads? More

Image, Nyx merger rocky again
By Susanne Ault – 03/20/2009
MARCH 20 | Required payment for March 26 reprieve not received More

Sony collects Norman Lear TV shows for DVD set
By Susanne Ault – 03/20/2009
MARCH 20 | All in the Family, Sanford and Son among series in 19-disc box More

Universal takes ‘Barbie’ worldwide
By Ali Jaafar of Variety – 03/17/2009
MARCH 17 | FROM VARIETY: DVD distribution deal is for animated franchise More

Image promotes Framer to president
By Susanne Ault – 03/16/2009
MARCH 16 | Replaces Borshell after less than a year in position More

Mountain tops weekend box office
By Dave McNary and Pamela McClintock of Variety – 03/16/2009
MARCH 16 | VARIETY BOX-OFFICE REPORT: Disney remake bumps Watchmen from top More

RETAIL

Movie Gallery launches subscription plan
By Danny King – 03/18/2009
MARCH 18 | ‘PowerPlay’ program eliminates due dates, late fees More

Twilight pre-orders break Wal-Mart record
By Susanne Ault – 03/18/2009
MARCH 18 | Mass merchant’s midnight parties to include message from film talent More

Circuit City dismissing employees, directors
By Alan Wolf of TWICE – 03/18/2009
MARCH 18 | FROM TWICE: Marcum overseeing liquidation of assets More

Charles in Charge gets exclusive CreateSpace debut
By Cindy Spielvogel – 03/17/2009
MARCH 17 | Season four available on demand More

MovieFlix offers multi-level subscription plans
By Cheryl Cheng – 03/17/2009
MARCH 17 | Download packages range from $9.95 to $28.95 More

Wattles buys Blockbuster stake
By Alan Wolf of TWICE – 03/17/2009
MARCH 17 | Hollywood Video founder owns 5.7% of class A shares More

Higgins to receive Presidential Award at NARM
By Susanne Ault – 03/16/2009
MARCH 16 | Trans World chairman/CEO honored for impact on music retailing More

HIGH-DEF

Panasonic ‘bullish’ on Blu-ray
By Susanne Ault – 03/17/2009
MARCH 17 | Company demonstrated players, including VHS/BD model More

ITunes to let user buy movies in HD
By Paul Sweeting – 03/20/2009
MARCH 20 | Downloads available day-and-date with DVD, Blu-ray More

Dolby signs licensing deals with Chinese Blu-ray makers
By Greg Tarr of TWICE – 03/20/2009
MARCH 20 | FROM TWICE: High-def audio to be included in new players More

Technology 

Consumer technology revenue dropped 4% in 2008
By Susanne Ault – 03/19/2009
MARCH 19 | Best Buy held largest sales share More

Blockbuster will cut costs for refinancing
By Danny King – 03/19/2009
MARCH 19 | Company scales back product buys, looks to boost revenue-sharing More

VOD/DOWNLOADS

ZillionTV names its executive management team
By Cheryl Cheng – 03/19/2009
MARCH 19 | Hires from cable, advertising, entertainment and commerce industries More

TV goes overboard with Internet
By Ben Fritz of Variety – 03/18/2009
MARCH 18 | FROM VARIETY: Despite high ratings, Web ads not paying off More

MovieFlix offers multi-level subscription plans
By Cheryl Cheng – 03/17/2009
MARCH 17 | Download packages range from $9.95 to $28.95 More

Comcast to offer Twilight VOD with exclusive content
By Susanne Ault – 03/16/2009
MARCH 16 | Format launch will be day-and-date with DVD bow More

VIDEOGAMES

Videogame revenue climbs 10% in February
By Susanne Ault – 03/19/2009
MARCH 20 | Hardware up 11%, software rises 9% More

Fox turns on Blacklight
By Tatiana Siegel of Variety – 03/17/2009
MARCH 17 | FROM VARIETY: Studio signs on for action pic, videogame More

Hayter, Carver form Dark Hero
By Michael Fleming of Variety – 03/17/2009
MARCH 17 | FROM VARIETY: Writer, producer team for genre projects for film, TV, Internet and videogames More