Analysis and opinion on the hottest issues in the home entertainment industry, including technology, copy protection, high-definition DVD and digital rights management
OPINION: Testing ground By Paul Sweeting - 07/11/2008 Paul Sweeting is editor of Content Agenda JULY 11 | Despite the billions it has made for the studios over the past three decades, the home video business has never gotten a lot of respect, either from Hollywood or from the self-anointed “visionaries” who have been predicting the demise of packaged media since at least the Reagan Administration. More
OPINION: Special delivery By Paul Sweeting of ContentAgenda - 07/18/2008 Paul Sweeting is editor of Content Agenda JULY 18 | At the E3 show in Los Angeles, both Microsoft and Sony made news with announcements of expanded movie and TV download offerings for Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network, respectively.
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OPINION: Making the connection By Paul Sweeting - 07/03/2008 Paul Sweeting is editor of Content Agenda JULY 3 | Were I a Blockbuster shareholder, I guess I’d be happy to see the company withdraw its bid to acquire Circuit City. The news sent the shares up more than 13% the day after the news broke, a rare good day for the beleaguered stock.More
OPINION: VOD in demand By Paul Sweeting - 06/27/2008 Paul Sweeting is editor of Content Agenda JUNE 27 | Studio efforts to craft a limited, high-def video-on-demand window ahead of movies’ DVD and Blu-ray release hit a snag when the FCC extended the public-comment period on the MPAA’s petition to block digital video recorder recordings of the early showings.
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OPINION: Moving Up By Paul Sweeting - 06/20/2008 Paul Sweeting is editor of Content Agenda JUNE 20 | SPEAKING AT the Entertainment Supply Chain Academy conference last week, Warner Home Video president Ron Sanders acknowledged the obvious: relatively inexpensive upconverting DVD players pose a threat to the industry’s efforts to market Blu-ray Disc.
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OPINION: Upping the ante By Paul Sweeting - 06/06/2008 Paul Sweeting is editor of Content Agenda JUNE 6 | THE JAPANESE press has been full of speculation in the past week over purported plans by Toshiba to introduce a super up-converting DVD player that surpasses current up-converters and produces images from existing DVDs that are virtually identical to Blu-ray Disc.
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OPINION: Facing the cost of filling up By Paul Sweeting - 05/30/2008 Paul Sweeting is editor of Content Agenda MAY 30 | Pull into Blockbuster and fill ’er up. That’s the basic idea behind the in-store download kiosk that Blockbuster chairman/CEO Jim Keyes unveiled in New York this week during the company’s annual meeting of shareholders.
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OPINION: High-def hurry By Paul Sweeting - 05/23/2008 Paul Sweeting is editor of Content Agenda
Last week, as I was reporting the story on the studios’ plans for an early, high-def video-on-demand window, the few studio executives who would talk about the issue at all—and then only on background—did their best to wave me off the story.
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Kevin Spacey tours for 21 Actor Kevin Spacey helped promote 21 on July 22 by participating in a satellite media tour to more than 30 top market news broadcasts. The film is available on DVD, PSP and Blu-ray from Sony.
Alyson Upside Down Actress Alyson Stoner celebrated the DVD release of Alice Upside Down at a Blockbuster in Dallas on July 16. Anchor Bay will release the DVD on July 29.
DEG Blu-ray party at ESPY awards The Digital Entertainment Group promoted Blu-ray Disc with demos at a party for the ESPY sports awards held at the Playboy Mansion on July 14.
