Uncategorized

MESA News – Jul. 17

Studios/Suppliers

Image expands stand-up DVD line
By Susanne Ault – 07/16/2009
JULY 16 | UPDATE–PHYSICAL: Acquires three titles with comedy stars More

Home entertainment revenue slips 3.9% in first half
By Marcy Magiera and Susanne Ault – 07/16/2009
JULY 16 | PHYSICAL: DEG: Growth in Blu-ray, rental, electronic distribution offset steep DVD drop More

Emmy nominations announced
By Brian Lowry of Variety – 07/16/2009
JULY 16 | FROM VARIETY: 30 Rock tops list; Family Guy, Flight of the Conchords broke into key categories More

Potter pic charms box office
By Pamela McClintock of Variety – 07/16/2009
JULY 16 | VARIETY BOX-OFFICE REPORT: Half-Blood Prince full-bodied with $22.2 million More

TLA returns to distribution business
By Cindy Spielvogel – 07/15/2009
JULY 15 | PHYSICAL: State of marketplace forces company to reverse plans More

Harry Potter pulls in $20 million
By Pamela McClintock of Variety – 07/15/2009
JULY 15 | FROM VARIETY: Pic may score best midnight gross of all time More

Peace Arch promotes Flock to CEO
By Susanne Ault – 07/14/2009
JULY 14 | PHYSICAL: Executive plans to relaunch DVD operations, boost digital distribution More

Potter poised to cast spell on box office
By Pamela McClintock of Variety – 07/14/2009
JULY 14 | FROM VARIETY: Harry expected to become top grossing franchise More

Cinema Libre makes production pact, opens digital store
By Cindy Spielvogel – 07/13/2009
JULY 13 | INDIE FILM GUIDE: First film in deal is The Last Days of Karl Marx More

Maverick offers first look deal to film students
By Cindy Spielvogel – 07/13/2009
JULY 13 | INDIE FILM GUIDE: Studio partners with FilmSchoolOnDemand.com More

Universal promotes Hoffman, Porteneuve
By Susanne Ault – 07/13/2009
JULY 13 | PHYSICAL: Executives expand marketing, communications roles More

Bruno sashays to top of box office
By Pamela McClintock of Variety – 07/13/2009
JULY 13 | VARIETY BOX-OFFICE REPORT: Ice Age passes the $100 million mark More

Peluso named VP of Affirm Films
By Susanne Ault – 07/13/2009
JULY 13 | PHYSICAL: Faith label releases include Facing the Giants, Fireproof More

 

Retail

Blockbuster to sell Archos 10 netbooks in stores
By Susanne Ault – 07/17/2009
JULY 17 | DIGITAL: Computers will have embedded link to retailer’s OnDemand service More
Dark Knight, Twilight honored by EMA
By Danny King – 07/13/2009
JULY 13 | PHYSICAL: WALL-E, Juno, The Visitor also won Home Entertainment Awards More

Best Buy to stress value this holiday season
By Alan Wolf of TWICE – 07/17/2009
JULY 17 | FROM TWICE: Will focus on private-label brands of TVs, Blu-ray players More

Blockbuster, Samsung reach streaming agreement
By Danny King – 07/14/2009
JULY 14 | DIGITAL: OnDemand titles to be available on HDTVs, Blu-ray players this fall More

Netflix stock rises on takeover rumors
By Danny King – 07/13/2009
JULY 13 | PHYSICAL: ‘Vague’ acquisition talk boosts shares, sites say More

 

High-Def

 Connecting with… David Bishop
By Susanne Ault – 07/17/2009
JULY 17 | Q&A: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment’s president says the ‘sky is not falling’ on home entertainment More

Star Trek flies out with space-age box
By Jennifer Netherby – 07/16/2009
JULY 16 | PHYSICAL: Tour of Enterprise built into Nov. 17 packaging More  

 

Technology

Macrovision rebrands, refocuses on media content
By Susanne Ault – 07/16/2009
JULY 16 | UPDATE–DIGITAL: Rovi to launch content guide Liquid More

Kicker iPod dock gets video out
By Joseph Palenchar of TWICE – 07/14/2009
JULY 14 | FROM TWICE: Works with iPhone certification More

Mobile video provider QuickPlay raises 12 million
By Todd Spangler of Multichannel News – 07/13/2009
JULY 13 | FROM MCN: Fourth funding round helps company reach $40 million More

 

VOD/Downloads

ScreenPlay plans to deliver full-length movies online
By Jennifer Netherby – 07/17/2009
JULY 17 | DIGITAL: Trailer service wants to streamline digital distribution More

Most cable customers give TV Everywhere thumbs up
By Todd Spangler of Multichannel News – 07/16/2009
JULY 16 | FROM MCN: Survey: 73% say Internet TV services are ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ idea More

Warner to distribute Wolfe titles on VOD
By Jennifer Netherby – 07/15/2009
JULY 15 | DIGITAL: Studio provides indies access to iTunes, others More

Faith and family VOD service launched with Cox
By Jennifer Netherby – 07/15/2009
JULY 15 | DIGITAL: Christian company to offer own films, mainstream Hollywood titles More

Paid online video to overtake free in revenue
By Jennifer Netherby – 07/14/2009
JULY 14 | DIGITAL: Study: Entire sector will grow 38% annually through 2012 More

CBS joins TV Everywhere trial
By Jennifer Netherby – 07/14/2009
JULY 14 | UPDATE: DIGITAL: HBO, Starz, others already participating in Comcast’s On Demand Online program More

HBO to offer True Blood, Entourage online
By Jennifer Netherby – 07/13/2009
JULY 13 | DIGITAL: Series free for subscribers only on Comcast sites More

CinemaNow developing Yahoo! TV Widget
By Jennifer Netherby – 07/13/2009
JULY 13 | DIGITAL: Sonic’s service will be accessible through TVs More

Mitsubishi, Vudu to kick off joint TV promotion
By Greg Tarr of TWICE – 07/13/2009
JULY 13 | FROM TWICE: Will offer $50 in movie credits with Mitsubishi TV purchase More

 

Videogames

Sony’s PlayStation 3 sees VOD surge
By Marc Graser of Variety – 07/17/2009
JULY 17 | FROM VARIETY: Network a lucrative platform for distribution More

Game biz takes 31% hit in June
By Susanne Ault – 07/16/2009
JULY 16 | PHYSICAL: People are playing more, but buying less, says NPD More

Online gaming surges 22% from a year earlier
By Danny King – 07/13/2009
JULY 13 | DIGITAL: GSN is fastest-growing site, ComScore says More

Theme park, videogames follow Harry
By Marc Graser of Variety – 07/13/2009
JULY 13 | FROM VARIETY: Warner Bros. making the most out of franchise More