The latest home entertainment news from retail, including top DVD sales, top DVD rentals, rental models, rental kiosks, store openings, store closings, earnings, executive moves and corporate restructurings.
Redbox will add kiosks at 1,800 Walgreens By Danny King - 02/27/2008 FEB. 27 | Redbox will add kiosks at about 1,800 Walgreens stores in the U.S. by the end of next year, allowing the largest U.S. movie-rental kiosk operator to lengthen its lead over competitors Moviecube and DVDPlay. Redbox tripled its kiosk count last year and currently has about 6,800 machines in the U.S., including about 250 Walgreens machines, the company said in a statement. More
VSDA v. Schwarzenegger appeal pending 03/03/2008 MARCH 3 | The following summarizes key government affairs activities during January of the Entertainment Merchants Assn. • VSDA v. Schwarzenegger: All the briefs have been filed in the appeal of last year’s decision that permanently enjoined enforcement of the videogame restriction law enacted by the state of California in 2005.
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EMA backs pending anti-piracy measure By Danny King and Paul Sweeting - 03/03/2008 MARCH 3 | The Entertainment Merchants Assn. is supporting a proposed federal government measure that would increase a crackdown on illegally duplicated movies, videogames and other forms of content.
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Blu-ray revs up its marketing By Susanne Ault - 02/29/2008 FEB. 29 | Having knocked down HD DVD, Blu-ray Disc supporters now are positioning their advanced format as the one to beat standard DVD, cable and satellite for high quality video delivery.
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I Am Legend to carry digital file By Susanne Ault - 02/29/2008 FEB. 29 | I Am Legend will mark Warner Home Video’s second DVD release with an embedded digital copy, as the studio and others experiment with files for a widening selection of media platforms. Like Warner’s first file-embedded DVD, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Legend will carry the embedded file only on its special-edition standard DVD, due for release March 18.
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Anchor Bay Mad for star vehicle By Danny King - 02/29/2008 FEB. 29 | Anchor Bay Entertainment will begin its exclusive U.S. DVD agreement with sister company Overture Films by releasing the Diane Keaton-starring Mad Money on May 13. The comedy, which also stars Katie Holmes and Queen Latifah, is Anchor Bay’s largest release ever, from both a box-office and marketing standpoint.
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Wattles seeks ouster of Circuit City’s board By Alan Wolf of TWICE - 02/29/2008 FEB. 29 | FROM TWICE: Dissident investor and Ultimate Electronics owner Mark Wattles wants to unseat all 12 of Circuit City’s sitting directors and replace them with the five board candidates he nominated earlier this week.
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101 on the 101 To promote its 101 Dalmatians: Platinum Edition DVD, Disney turned Route 101 in Los Angeles into the ‘101 Dalmations Freeway,’ as 101 spotted cars drove on the highway to spcaLA’s Animal Village in Long Beach, Calif., on March 2.
Ricki visits New Line The Business of Being Born producer Ricki Lake recently visited New Line’s office in Los Angeles. The documentary will be released on DVD May 6.
Lawrence chats about Mrs. Doubtfire Actor Matthew Lawrence spent some time in Los Angeles on March 3 for interviews to promote Fox’s Mrs. Doubtfire: Special Edition DVD.