2012 Blu-ray Sales Metrics Stats: HMM/Nielsen/Videoscan/The-Numbers Quarterly DEG etc

[Kosty]

Posted for future reference here.

Main thread for this topic here offsite at HTF

Welcome to the Blu-ray Lounge 2012: Q&A Session



Featured by Ronald Epstein Home Theater Forum

Home Theater Forum is proud to present the Q&A session from The Blu-ray Disc Association which hosted its Home Entertainment Ecosystem Virtual Roundtable. This Q&A session features questions asked from Blu-ray enthusiasts across the country including members of this very forum.




Q
What's the status of plans to standardize Ultra Violet so that users don't need to go to different studio sites to register their purchases. And, more importantly, when will users be able to register an UltraViolet disc merely by putting it in a Blu-ray player and tapping one button?

A
Rich Marty: The industry is continually evaluating and improving the UltraViolet user experience, including sign-on. Currently, a consumer can utilize Walmart's VUDU service to aggregate and watch all of their movies in one place. Over time, we expect that the UltraViolet process will become even more streamlined, with the possibility of including direct Blu-ray Disc redemption from a connected player.

Q
Are there any players out there that can stream Ultraviolet? If not, is it expected?

A
Andy Parsons: I'm not aware of any at the moment, but as a manufacturer of players, I suppose I would have to ask why you'd want to do that if you have a Blu-ray player and already own the title on BD; wouldn't you want to see the film in the highest quality HD picture and sound?

Q
Why is there a lack of player features that allow all disks to "remember" the previous location and return automatically. This should be built into the players and should override any attempt to author disks that do not do this

A
Paul Erickson: Unfortunately that is more of a hardware- and format-level question that I'm not equipped to answer.

Q
Can you say why some studios have moved away from digital copies and started using Ultra Violet? Why can't both be offered? UV is a poor substitute for digital copies as it takes a lot of time to set it up and then all you can do is stream it or watch it on your PC. The move to UV seems to be detrimental to consumers so I wanted to hear your thoughts on it.

A
Andy Parsons: Your question is really a product-related one, since it's completely up to individual studios as to which of the "digital" file types they want to include, if any. I know, for example, that some titles I've recently bought include both digital copy and UV, whereas others might offer only UV or only digital copy. The reasons studios package their content the way they do is based entirely on the features they want to include.

Q
Any plans for doing Blu-ray Audio releases for the Audiophile market? Also, what was the motivation behind SPHE switching from Dolby TrueHD on their home video releases to DTS-HD Master Audio?

A
Rich Marty: Blu-ray is the ideal format for high-def music and concert releases, and our sister company Sony Music has released a number of titles on the format to date. As Sony Pictures, we don't generally handle that content and focus on feature films and TV shows. In terms of audio codecs, we are constantly evaluating the high definition audio landscape, as we did when we made the shift to DTS HD-MA.

Q
What's the current split in BD vs. DVD software sales?

A
Rich Marty: For key new release titles, the split can go as high as 50%+ and we expect that go higher as Blu-ray penetration increases.

Q
How has the Walmart disc to digital initiative been going?

A
Paul Erickson: In terms of 4K for consumers, I think it is still quite new and honestly will not be mainstream-accessible for quite a while, in terms of pricing or availability of content. TVs/ Displays capable of reproducing 4K content will be prohibitively priced for the mainstream, but as is the norm, I expect they will primarily be in the hands of enthusiasts for a while before 4K displays, content, and devices move downward in price and upward in availability. Projects like Super Hi Vision are even more niche, keep in mind there are still lots of people migrating to 1080p worldwide. There's always going to be a lag between the cutting edge and actual mainstream adoption, I think for 4K to take mass-market flight there has to be some burning need at the consumer end. Currently I dont know that it exists outside of serious enthusiasts. Switching gears, from that perspective I think much like 3D, 4K is a valuable extension to Blu-ray - if you want to go beyond the basic HD experience, the features are there for the serious enthusiast to take advantage of.

Q
What is Sony Pictures' position on upgrading the Blu-ray specs to put 4K and 8K native video on a BD disc?

A
Rich Marty: As mentioned, the Blu-ray format is well-positioned to adapt to evolving standards. As the future unfolds, Sony Pictures is in a good position with our asset library, given that we already master a number of titles at 4K resolution.

Q
I was wondering if you think that Blu-ray is in fact the last physical format or if you see something like SD cards replacing it in the future?

A
Andy Parsons: I've learned to avoid trying to predict the future, but I do think that new physical formats are based on specific applications that mandate their use. For standard definition, we had DVD, which did the best possible job of presenting content in that resolution. For HDTV, we have Blu-ray, which has enough capacity to present 1080p images and uncompressed sound with the highest possible quality available. Fortunately, if and when 4K begins to make an entrance on the scene, Blu-ray has enough capacity to handle that job too.

Q
What is the current split between streaming and packaged media?

A
Andy Parsons: The most recent numbers we have from IHS Screen Digest is for 2011, which showed about 16% of revenue was for streaming, and 84% was for packaged media.

Q
Apple has made a point of saying that its new retina displays actually have more pixels than an HDTV, suggesting the picture quality is better than Blu-ray. Do you think Blu-ray will be able to become more high-def with greater resolution? Is there a next-gen HD in the works?

A
Andy Parsons: We are already at the maximum resolution available for the HDTV systems currently in use around the world (1080p), so the only way to become "more high def" would be to incorporate 4K resolution into the format. At present, the BDA is not working on a 4K version of Blu-ray, but if and when the time comes to do that, we believe the 50GB capacity should allow us to accommodate the much higher data rates that 4K sources require.

Q
More and more disc titles are capable of remembering where they were last played through Java apps these days...what are you thoughts on this?

A
Andy Parsons: I'm like anyone else -- I love being able to resume a title where I left off, since the days of being able to watch a movie for 2+ hours without interruption are pretty much behind me for the moment. I know that both player and content companies are acutely aware of the need to provide this capability, so I'm sure you'll see more solutions down the road. I can't wait.

Q
How does Sony feel the Blu-ray 3D (or other 3D format) adoption is going with consumers?

A
Rich Marty: 3D adoption should be looked at as a more of a marathon than as a sprint. 3D is quickly becoming a standard feature set on new HDTVs, and as such, there will be a continued hunger for 3D content. We're pleased with the Blu-ray 3D results to date and the excitement that surrounds it. As you look at this summer's 3D movie slate, there are obviously a number of new 3D titles coming later this year to drive that excitement and adoption.

Q
When do you see a new format possibly replacing Blu-ray? Or is Blu-ray going to enjoy the same amount of market dominance that DVD had?

A
Andy Parsons: Packaged media formats don't really come along all that often, because each represents a standardized, dependable way to distribute and enjoy content around the world. We knew this when we built the specifications for Blu-ray, since formats like VHS, CD, DVD and even vinyl records tend to stick around for many decades. Blu-ray has continued to gain in popularity over the past six years, with a current household penetration of about one-third of U.S. homes so far, and it hasn't shown any sign of slowing down at all. It's also encouraging to see that some of the newer releases coming on the market can represent more than half of packaged media sales, indicating that Blu-ray should continue to play a very significant role in the market. And as we said in the video portion, the format has adapted to include many new ways of enjoying content.

Q
Where does gaming fit into Blu-ray?

A
Rich Marty: As you know, the PlayStation 3 really helped drive Blu-ray at the launch of the format. Another demonstration of the versatility of the format has been our "game demo hybrids," with the inclusion of a PS3 game level on the same Blu-ray as a feature film, as we did with Battle: LA/Resistance 3 and Zookeeper/Ratchet & Clank. Given the great consumer response, we're going to continue the collaboration with PlayStation.

Q
I'm not sure if you can answer this but I was wondering if MGM/Sony will resume releasing the Bond sets where they left off to complete the series for those that bought the first three sets. I know the complete box set is coming but I wanted to know if there were plans to help the people that bought the first individual sets to complete their collection.

A
Rich Marty: You would need to check in with Fox/MGM, as they handle the home entertainment distribution of the Bond titles.

Q
For this holiday season, how do you think Blu-ray disc players will stack up against the various alternatives?

A
Paul Erickson: I think BD players will fare fairly well this holiday season. I think as always the first and biggest obstacle to pass for the mainstream consumer during the holidays is an accessible price. As we've seen over the last few years, BD players have dropped lower and lower, to where now sub-$100 players are quite common. I think we will see increased segmentation of streaming-only players such as Roku and Apple TV under $100, partially because sub-$100 BD players have applied pressure to those products - BD players offer a more versatile value. As we see more players on Black Friday and during the holidays drop to near-DVD-player pricing, it puts even more pressure on streaming-only boxes. Given the ability to play physical media, and common access to mainstream streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, I think BD players will look quite attractive compared to streaming only devices.

Versus game consoles, mainly the PS3 and Xbox 360, I think BD players are attractive due to the lower price points. BD players compare well for the main reason that they sit at significantly different price points in general... however modern game consoles, for a higher price, do offer very competent access to physical and streamed content. The rise in adoption of connected/smart TVs can also be seen as the growth of a future competitor, but that remains a streaming-only proposition. replacing a Tv is also a much more costly, and much more long-timeframe proposition. BD players are accessibly priced and add capabilities to prior TV generations without "smart" features. overall I think BD players are going to increase in appeal, and compare quite well to alternatives this holiday season primarily because of the value offered for money, when it comes to the ability of people to consume media.

Q
You said Blu-ray players are the nerve center of the home entertainment experience. Given that players can do everything, how are most people using their Blu-ray hardware?

A
Andy Parsons: That's a great question, and we're looking into getting some data that might answer it more precisely. We think that most people are buying BD players to watch movies in high definition as the first priority, and that they are also using streaming functions to get access to content they watch on a more casual, one-time basis. This is why I used the "never center" phrase, as there really is no other product on the market that can handle all the format types that a connected Blu-ray player can.

Q
Have you had any feedback from customers regarding the downgrading of rental Blu-ray to remove extras and force the viewing of previews? I am not sure if Sony does this but certainly other studios do...

A
Rich Marty: We haven't had any specific feedback on rental discs to date...but on a separate note, we are evaluating the user experience at disc start-up in general. Although there are some legal constraints (logos, FBI warnings, etc.) and we can't make guarantees, we do want to ensure that the Blu-ray consumer has an optimal experience from start to finish - and are looking closely at what can be achieved.

How does the landscape look in 5 years? Blu-ray? Streaming? Something we haven't seen yet?

A
Paul Erickson: The market as always, is unpredictable, but I think if we extend certain trends we see now, there's a good chance we'll see: 1. Blu-ray continuing as a specific format, much higher capacity than you see today, with 4K, 3d, and other potential features being standard. 2. Physical and streamed media sharing equal footing - by this I mean certain use cases will always need physical media. You will not have a stable high speed internet connection everywhere and in every place, this is just reality. In these use cases, such as road trips in the middle of nowhere for example, physical media is still key. 3. pay-TV services will be much more developed in how they allow consumers to consume the content they've subscribed to, on the various screens they own. 4. Blu-ray's content transportability to mobile devices will be mature, and common. 5. Streaming will be far more accepted and understood by consumers today. 6. lastly, consumers will be much more savvy about consuming digital media in all forms. overall Blu-ray will still be around I believe, as part of the various ways and means by which people can legitimately and purchase and consume media across their varied devices.

Q
Is there a roadmap within BDA to upgrade Blu-ray specs for putting 4K and 8K native video on a BD disc? Is there still no call to do so? If so, why not? One supposition is that many may feel physical media such as BD won't survive long enough to see 4K and 8K content become a reality for the home, and that's why there's no call to upgrade BD. Is that the case?

A
Andy Parsons: As I've said before, there is currently no plan to add 4K or 8K to the Blu-ray specs, so there is no official roadmap for them. But bear in mind that we still don't even have 100% penetration of HDTV sets in the U.S. (currently about 75% or so), so we're still out there promoting the benefits of HDTV to those who haven't taken the plunge yet. The home theater folks are, as always, at the bleeding edge of technology, and it's understandable that those who are clued into 4K are eager to put it to use. If and when we do decide to develop a 4K version of Blu-ray, however, I'm confident that only packaged media will have the capacity and throughput needed to do it justice, since it contains four times the picture information as 1080p -- the average U.S. household bandwidth of 5 Mbps is simply not fast enough to handle 1080p reliably, let alone 4K.

Q
Paul, any final thoughts as we close out this virtual roundtable?

A
Paul Erickson: I think the major takeaways from my perspective aren't fundamentally different from what I spoke about late last year, Blu-ray still offers the same strong value propositions. When a person buys a BD player, they are getting a device which offers them the best versatility in content consumption for the money. Moreover, they can still watch all of their legacy DVD content that they've already invested in. To me, BD players still represent tremendous value for money, particularly in today's budget-conscious economy. I mentioned that they would be a sleeper buy last holiday season, I believe that will remain true for holiday 2012 for all the same reasons.

Q
Rich, any final thoughts as we close out this virtual roundtable?

A
Rich Marty: Thanks for the opportunity to talk about Blu-ray, which remains a top priority for Sony Pictures. Hope everyone is as excited as we are about Lawrence of Arabia, coming out on Blu-ray later this year for the 50th anniversary. - Rich

Q
Any final thoughts as we close out this virtual roundtable?

A
Andy Parsons: I think the main point we want to make today is that Blu-ray Disc products have grown and adapted to a changing technology landscape in a way that really benefits consumers. We've added 3D, introduced connected players that embrace streaming services alongside packaged media such as Blu-ray, DVD and CD discs, and we've seen newer titles that have helped us expand the home theater into new places by adding the digital extensions such as digital copy and Ultraviolet. We believe there is no better value available to a consumer of motion picture content than a Blu-ray system, because it gives you the absolute broadest range of ways and places you can enjoy the great content we all love.

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/t/32...0#post_3937744

[Kosty]

Catching up a bit with these The-Numbers estimates in the next few posts.

[Kosty]

The-Numbers DVD and Blu-ray Sales Estimates Week Ending 05/20/12

Blu-ray Sales: Grey Brightens Up Blu-ray

Getting caught up on the Blu-ray sales chart after a massive overhaul of the database, which hopefully you didn't notice too much. We're splitting the two weeks into two articles, otherwise they would be just too cumbersome.

We start with the week ending May 20th, which featured six new releases on the chart.

Top spot went to The Grey with 375,000 units sold, but in terms of revenue, it was in second place with $7.50 million. Its opening week Blu-ray share was 51%, which even just last year would have been momentous, but now is standard for a first-run release for any action or adventure film.

Chronicle placed second in terms of units with 350,000 units, but was number one in terms of revenue at $8.31 million. Its opening week Blu-ray share was 57%, which is impressive, even given the average for an action film.

Underworld: Awakening fell from first to third with 148,000 units / $2.75 million for the week giving it totals of 710,000 units / $13.96 million after two weeks of release.

One for the Money debuted in fourth place with just 66,000 units / $1.31 million. This film did have a lot of action, but it was more of a comedy, so I wasn't expecting it to be a big seller on Blu-ray. Even so, its opening week Blu-ray share was just 28%, which is disappointing.

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol fell to fifth place with 61,000 units / $1.27 million over the week for a totals of 1.87 million units / $40.74 million.

We find Rampart in ninth place with 42,000 units / $636,000. Its Blu-ray share was 36%, which is excellent for a limited release, especially one that is heavy on the drama and light on the visuals.

The Devil Inside only managed 19th place with 20,000 units / $492,000. It struggled on DVD and with an opening week Blu-ray share of just 25%, it bombed on Blu-ray.

Hell on Wheels: The First Season was right behind with 19,000 units / $380,000 for a opening week Blu-ray share 34%. This is a strong start for a TV on DVD release.

The overall Blu-ray sales were a little week compared to last week down 7% in terms of units and 11% in terms of revenue. Granted, you would always prefer growth, but week-over-week declines of this size are just random noise and nothing to be concerned about, or really take note of.

On the other hand, growth from last year was noteworthy, as we sold 99% more units and generated 128% more revenue.

DVD sales were weaker compared to last week and last year, so the overall Blu-ray share was again strong at 44% in terms of units and 52% in terms of dollars, which was again about double what it was this week last year.

There's no need to look ahead to next week, because we already have those numbers and we will get to them right away.

- C.S.Strowbridge

Date posted: 2012-06-07

Movies *
* The Grey
* Chronicle
* Underworld: Awakening
* One for the Money
* Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol
* Rampart
* The Devil Inside

http://www.the-numbers.com/interacti...hp?newsID=7322

DVD Sales: A Colorful Couple Weeks on DVD

After a major change on the back end of site, we have two weeks of home market numbers to get to, starting with the week ending on May 20th. New releases dominated the chart taking the top three spots and four of the top six.

The Grey earned first place with 360,000 units / $6.12 million. This is a fine start given its theatrical run, but not an exceptional one.

Chronicle was disappointing in second place with 262,000 units / $3.92 million. It made more than The Grey did theatrically, but significantly less on DVD, so it converted a lot fewer ticket buyers into purchases on the home market.

One for the Money debuted in third place with 172,000 / $2.58 million. It struggled at the box office and it struggled during its home market debut.

Underworld: Awakening fell to fourth place with 162,000 units / $2.88 million over the week giving it totals of 604,000 units / $10.39 million after two.

The Vow plummeted from first to fifth with 152,000 units / $2.71 million for the week. After two weeks of release, it has sold 920,000 units and generated $15.76 million.

Rampart just missed the top five with 76,000 units / $755,000. This is a strong start for a limited release.

The Devil Inside just missed the top ten with 58,000 units / $874,000. It did very well at the box office compared to most January releases, but it's bombed on the home market. I guess its reviews finally caught up with it.

The final new release to chart was Hell on Wheels: Season One. The TV on DVD release took 17th place with 37,000 units / $679,000, which is strong for a cable show.

http://www.the-numbers.com/interacti...hp?newsID=7317

[Kosty]

The-Numbers DVD and Blu-ray Sales Estimates Week Ending 05/27/12

Blu-ray Sales: Red Revels in Blu

New releases took the top four spots in the Blu-ray sales chart. Red Tails took first place with 446,000 units / $10.25 million for a 48% opening week Blu-ray share. The film was expensive to make and it didn't perform well enough in theaters, but its home market numbers are better.

This Means War was well back in second place with 261,000 unit s/ $5.21 million. Its opening week Blu-ray share was 47%, but it is hard to judge how good that is, because the film is a mixture of Romantic Comedy and Action, and those two genres tend to have widely different results on high definition. As an action film, it is merely good. As a romantic comedy, it is fantastic.

The Secret World of Arrietty earned third place with 152,000 units / $3.50 million. Its opening week Blu-ray share was 47%, which is great for a kids movie, but Studio Ghibli films appeal as much to adult fans of the art form as they do to kids.

The Woman in Black opened in fourth place with 121,000 units / $2.41 million for an opening week Blu-ray share of 40%. I was hoping for more for this film.

The Grey fell from first place to fifth place with 112,000 units / $2.69 million for the week and 488,000 units / $10.19 million in total.

There were plenty of other new releases to chart, starting with Men in Black in ninth place with 53,000 units / $689,000 and Men in Black 2 in tenth place with 50,000 / $655,000.

Whisper in the Heart opened in 12th place with 41,000 units / $939,000 while fellow Studio Ghibli release, Castle in the Sky, opened in 16th with 33,000 units / $760,000.

The final new release to chart was Sherlock: Season Two, which earned 17th place with 31,000 units / $871,000. Its opening week Blu-ray share was 26%, which is strong for a TV on DVD release.

Overall, the Blu-ray market was strong. It grew 16% in terms of units and 15% in terms of revenue from last week and 105% in terms of units and 114% in terms of revenue when compared to last year.

DVD sales actually grew faster compared to last week rising 22%, both in terms of units and revenue, but fell 9% in terms of units from last year. (Revenue was essentially flat.) This meant the overall Blu-ray reach was a little lower than last week at 43% in terms of units and 50% in terms of revenue, but this is still a fantastic result.

Looking forward to next week, there's good news and bad news. The good new is True Blood: Season Four. The bad news is, everything else. There's not a lot of depth out there. On the other hand, last year had the exact same strengths and weaknesses, literally. The best selling True Blood: Season Three was the best selling DVD and Blu-ray, while the lack of depth was a real issue. The overall growth of Blu-ray should help the format easily win in the year-over-year comparison.

- C.S.Strowbridge

Date posted: 2012-06-07

Movies *
* Red Tails
* This Means War
* The Secret World of Arietty
* The Woman in Black
* The Grey
* Men in Black
* Men in Black 2

http://www.the-numbers.com/interacti...hp?newsID=7323

DVD Sales: A Colorful Couple Weeks on DVD

...

Moving onto the week of May 27th, which was also dominated by new releases. Red Tails earned first place with 485,000 units / $7.26 million. Its theatrical run was only mixed, but strong home market numbers could help the film recoup more of its production budget.

This Means War was well back in second place with 297,000 units / $4.44 million. It also missed expectations at the box office and this start on the home market won't help it financially.

The Woman in Black was disappointing in third place with 180,000 units / $3.06 million. It deserves better.

Likewise, The Secret World of Arrietty deserved better, but its opening week DVD sales of 174,000 units / $3.13 million were at least good compared to its theatrical run.

The Grey fell from first to fifth with 147,000 units / $2.49 million over the week for totals of 507,000 units / $8.60 million after two.

There were two other new releases to chart, both of which were TV on DVD releases. Sherlock: Season Two earned tenth place with 87,000 units / $1.73 million, which is great for an import. Meanwhile, Rizzoli & Isles: The Complete Second Season was right behind with 66,000 units / $1.77 million.

- C.S.Strowbridge

Date posted: 2012-06-05

Movies *
* The Grey
* Chronicle
* One for the Money
* Underworld: Awakening
* The Vow
* Rampart
* The Devil Inside
* Red Tails
* This Means War
* The Woman in Black
* The Secret World of Arietty

http://www.the-numbers.com/interacti...hp?newsID=7317

[Kosty]

The-Numbers DVD and Blu-ray Sales Estimates Week Ending 06/03/12

Blu-ray Sales: True to Form

True Blood: Season Four led all new releases and earned top spot on the Blu-ray sales chart. During its first week of release, it sold 369,000 units and generated $12.93 million in revenue. Its opening week Blu-ray share was 34%, which is low for the format as a whole, but very strong for a TV on DVD release.

Man on a Ledge opened in second place with 131,000 units / $2.23 million. Its opening week Blu-ray share was 47%, which is good, but not great. It was an action film, which usually means higher Blu-ray share, but it wasn't a particularly visually intensive one, plus it struggled at the box office.

Red Tails added 81,000 units / $2.02 million over the week for a total of 527,000 units / $12.27 million after two.

Thanks to Prometheus, the Alien Anthology returned to the chart in fourth place selling 69,000 units and generating $3.50 million.

The Grey remained in fifth place selling 61,000 units and generating $1.45 million in revenue during its third week in release for running tallies of 548,000 units / $11.64 million.

Amazingly, Goon opened in sixth place with 59,000 units / $1.17 million. Its opening week Blu-ray share was 51%, which is outstanding for a limited release and a comedy.

Gone, on the other hand, missed the top ten landing in twelfth place with 48,000 units / $819,000. Its opening week Blu-ray share was 36%, which is weak compared to the format average, but everything about this film's performance has been weak thus far.

The final new release to chart was Coriolanus, which earned 14th place with 39,000 units / $665,000. An opening week Blu-ray share of 39% is strong for a limited release.

The blu-ray market didn't sell as many units this week declining by 19% from last week. However, this week was led by a TV on DVD release, which tend to not sell as many units, but the higher price helped the revenue grow by just under 1%.

Growth from last year was fantastic up 106% in terms of units and 149% percent in terms of dollars. DVD sales were stronger when compared to last week, up 1% in terms of units and 31% in terms of revenue, and when compared to last year, up 10% / 16%. The overall Blu-ray reach was again a little lower than last week down to 39% in terms of units and 45% in terms of dollars. If it can remain at this level for the rest of summer, that would still be a strong result.

Looking forward to next week, Safe House should lead the way, which is good news, as the film made more than $100 million domestically. By comparison, last year was led by True Grit, which earned first place on DVD and Blu-ray. Even with the overall growth in the Blu-ray market, I don't think Safe House will match those numbers, so we could see a year-over-year decline.


- C.S.Strowbridge


Date posted: 2012-06-13

Movies
Man on a Ledge
Red Tails
The Grey
Goon
Gone
Coriolanus

http://www.the-numbers.com/interacti...hp?newsID=7339

DVD Sales: Truth Wins Out

True Blood was the only major release on this week's DVD sales chart crushing newcomers and holdovers alike. It sold 717,000 units / $21.52 million during its opening week, which is fantastic for a TV on DVD release. Man on the Ledge opened in a very distant second place with just 147,000 units / $2.20 million. It failed to make much of an impact in theaters, so this result is unsurprising. The Secret World of Arrietty actually rose to third place, second place in terms of dollars. It sold an additional 128,000 units / $2.55 million over the week for a total of 288,000 units / $5.42 million after two. Red Tails fell from first to fourth with 120,000 units / $1.79 million over the week for a total of 566,000 units / $8.47 million after two. This Means War rounded out the top five with 99,000 units / $1.48 million during the week and 372,000 units / $5.57 million after two.

There were a few other new releases to chart, starting with Gone, which earned sixth place with 86,000 units / $1.28 million. Even compared to its box office numbers, this was bad. Coriolanus opened in 12th place with 62,000 units / $865,000, which is very solid for a limited release. Goon managed 15th place with 55,000 units / $773,000. Again, this is solid for a limited release, but its Blu-ray numbers were even better.

On a side note, Game of Thrones: Season One returned to the chart in 16th place in terms of units and fourth place in terms of revenue. It sold an additional 54,000 units / $1.89 million for a total of 897,000 units / $30.57 million. This was due to the Season Two finale and the DVD will likely return to the top 30 when the Season Two DVD and Blu-ray come out.

- C.S.Strowbridge

Date posted: 2012-06-12

Movies *
* Man on a Ledge
* The Secret World of Arietty
* Red Tails
* This Means War
* Gone
* Coriolanus
* Goon

http://www.the-numbers.com/interacti...hp?newsID=7335

[Kosty]

Merchandising Week Ending 06/10/12

Best Buy Brings Bonuses
5 Jun, 2012
By: John Latchem



A slew of major new releases hit shelves June 5, and Best Buy offered exclusives with almost all of them.

For Universal’s Safe House, Best Buy offered an exclusive Blu-ray/DVD combo pack in steelbook packaging.

For Fox’s Act of Valor, it offered the Blu-ray combo pack with exclusive box art and additional Navy SEAL footage. For Warner’s Journey 2, it offered the first Journey at $4.99 for DVD, $7.99 for Blu-ray and $19.99 for 3D BD. Consumers who purchased Fox’s White Collar: The Complete Third Season and Burn Notice: Season Five together could save $10. And for Disney’s John Carter, Best Buy touted a coupon at JohnCarterCoupon.com/BestBuy good for $5 off the 3D Blu-ray combo pack, which it sold with an exclusive bonus disc.

Target also offered a John Carter promotion, offering an $8 savings with the purchase of Carter with another selected Disney Blu-ray movie, such as Tron: Legacy or Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

In addition, Target’s copy of the Breaking Bad: The Complete Fourth Season DVD came with an exclusive cast Q&A.

http://www.homemediamagazine.com/age...brings-bonuses

[Kosty]

Projections Week Ending 06/10/12

Projections: 'Valor' Among Top New Titles

11 Jun, 2012
By: John Latchem



Retailers will look to put a relatively slow May behind them with a slew of top-tier titles to kick off June.

Among the contenders for the top sales spot are Fox’s Act of Valor ($70 million at the domestic box office), Disney’s John Carter ($72.7 million), Universal’s Safe House ($126.2 million) and Warner’s Journey 2 ($103.4 million). Valor has been trending ahead of Carter on Amazon.com’s bestseller list.

With none of the new releases available at Redbox or Netflix due to studio embargoes, the previous top rentals should remain atop the rental chart.

Rank Title Studio Weeks on Chart

Projected Top 3 Sellers for Week Ending 6/10/2012

1 Act of Valor Fox New
2 John Carter Disney New
3 Journey 2: The Mysterious Island Warner New

Projected Top 3 Rentals for Week Ending 6/10/2012

1 Man on a Ledge Lionsgate/Summit 2
2 Contraband Universal 7
3 Gone Lionsgate/Summit 2

http://www.homemediamagazine.com/res...w-titles-27484

[Kosty]

Merchandising Week Ending 06/17/12

Exclusive Content Reigns

12 Jun, 2012
By: John Latchem


Among the several new releases June 12, quite a few retailers enhanced copies sold in their stores with a slew of exclusive bonus content.

Target offered exclusive bonus discs with the DVD of Lionsgate’s latest Tyler Perry flick, Good Deeds, which included a "Creating Good Chemistry" featurette, and HBO’s DVD and Blu-ray sets of the final season of “Entourage,” which came with a 65-minute Q&A.

Over at Best Buy, Ghost Rider fans could get Sony Pictures’ new Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance 3D Blu-ray with 20 minutes of additional footage and an exclusive bonus disc with a “Vehicles of Vengeance” featurette.

For Warner’s Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, Best Buy offered the Blu-ray combo pack in steelbook packaging, as well as a Blu-ray of the first film in steelbook packaging separately for $9.99.

Best Buy also offered an exclusive figurine with the purchase of Warner’s Superman vs. the Elite direct-to-video animated movie on Blu-ray. Walmart offered a two-DVD special edition of Superman vs. the Elite, a configuration not offered elsewhere until July 24.

http://www.homemediamagazine.com/age...content-reigns

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[Kosty]

duplicate post

[Kosty]

Sony’s Marty, BDA’s Parsons Talk Blu-ray

12 Jun, 2012
By: Chris Tribbey



It’s been six years since the first Blu-ray Disc players shipped, and Andy Parsons, SVP of corporate communications for Pioneer Electronics and chair of the Blu-ray Disc Association's (BDA) promotion committee in the United States, remembers how simple — and expensive — they were.

“They played discs. Very simple and very straightforward,” he said June 12, during the second of a series of virtual roundtables presented by the BDA. The discs themselves were simple as well, he added.

Today, the discs come with DVD and digital copies, options for UltraViolet and applications that connect content to a second screen. The players include dozens of streaming services and options for 3D.

“When people buy a Blu-ray Disc player, it’s no longer a choice between physical and streaming video, because for all intents and purposes, the consumer gets access to both,” said Paul Erickson, senior analyst for IMS Research. “The modern Blu-ray player provides a bridge between the new and the old, and there really isn’t any substitute.”

During the roundtable, Parsons and Erickson discussed Blu-ray’s past, present and future with Rich Marty, VP of emerging platform development and marketing for Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Here’s a selection of the Q&A portion of the roundtable:

Q: What’s the status of plans to standardize UltraViolet so that users don’t need to go to different studio sites to register their purchases? And, more importantly, when will users be able to register an UltraViolet disc merely by putting it in a Blu-ray player and tapping one button?

Marty: The industry is continually evaluating and improving the UltraViolet user experience, including sign-on. Currently, a consumer can utilize Walmart’s Vudu service to aggregate and watch all of their movies in one place. Over time, we expect that the UltraViolet process will become even more streamlined, with the possibility of including direct Blu-ray Disc redemption from a connected player.

Q: Are there any players out there that can stream Ultraviolet? If not, is it expected?

Parsons: I’m not aware of any at the moment, but as a manufacturer of players, I suppose I would have to ask why you’d want to do that if you have a Blu-ray player and already own the title on BD; wouldn’t you want to see the film in the highest-quality HD picture and sound?

Q: Can you say why some studios have moved away from digital copies and started using UltraViolet? Why can’t both be offered? UV is a poor substitute for digital copies as it takes a lot of time to set it up and then all you can do is stream it or watch it on your PC. The move to UV seems to be detrimental to consumers, so I wanted to hear your thoughts on it.

Parsons: Your question is really a product-related one, since it’s completely up to individual studios as to which of the "digital" file types they want to include, if any. I know, for example, that some titles I’ve recently bought include both digital copy and UV, whereas others might offer only UV or only digital copy. The reasons studios package their content the way they do is based entirely on the features they want to include.

Q: Any plans for doing Blu-ray Audio releases for the audiophile market? Also, what was the motivation behind SPHE switching from Dolby TrueHD on their home video releases to DTS-HD Master Audio?

Marty: Blu-ray is the ideal format for high-def music and concert releases, and our sister company Sony Music has released a number of titles on the format to date. As Sony Pictures, we don’t generally handle that content and focus on feature films and TV shows. In terms of audio codecs, we are constantly evaluating the high-definition audio landscape, as we did when we made the shift to DTS HD-MA.

Q: What’s the current split in BD vs. DVD software sales?

Marty: For key new release titles, the split can go as high as 50%-plus and we expect that go higher as Blu-ray penetration increases.

Q: What is Sony Pictures' position on upgrading the Blu-ray specs to put 4K and 8K native video on a BD disc (ultra-high-def specs are 3840x2160 lines of resolution for 4K and 7680x4320 for 8K, current 1080p specs are 1920X1080)?

Marty: As mentioned, the Blu-ray format is well-positioned to adapt to evolving standards. As the future unfolds, Sony Pictures is in a good position with our asset library, given that we already master a number of titles at 4K resolution.

Q: I was wondering if you think that Blu-ray is in fact the last physical format or if you see something like SD cards replacing it in the future.

Parsons: I’ve learned to avoid trying to predict the future, but I do think that new physical formats are based on specific applications that mandate their use. For standard-definition, we had DVD, which did the best possible job of presenting content in that resolution. For HDTV, we have Blu-ray, which has enough capacity to present 1080p images and uncompressed sound with the highest possible quality available. Fortunately, if and when 4K begins to make an entrance on the scene, Blu-ray has enough capacity to handle that job, too.

Q: What is the current split between streaming and packaged media?

Parsons: The most recent numbers we have from IHS Screen Digest is for 2011, which showed about 16% of revenue was for streaming, and 84% was for packaged media.

Q: Apple has made a point of saying that its new retina displays actually have more pixels than an HDTV, suggesting the picture quality is better than Blu-ray. Do you think Blu-ray will be able to become more high-def with greater resolution? Is there a next-gen HD in the works?

Parsons: We are already at the maximum resolution available for the HDTV systems currently in use around the world (1080p), so the only way to become “more high def” would be to incorporate 4K resolution into the format. At present, the BDA is not working on a 4K version of Blu-ray, but if and when the time comes to do that, we believe the 50GB capacity should allow us to accommodate the much higher data rates that 4K sources require.

Q: How does Sony feel the Blu-ray 3D (or other 3D format) adoption is going with consumers?

Marty: 3D adoption should be looked at as a more of a marathon than as a sprint. 3D is quickly becoming a standard feature set on new HDTVs, and as such, there will be a continued hunger for 3D content. We’re pleased with the Blu-ray 3D results to date and the excitement that surrounds it. As you look at this summer’s 3D movie slate, there are obviously a number of new 3D titles coming later this year to drive that excitement and adoption.

Q: When do you see a new format possibly replacing Blu-ray? Or is Blu-ray going to enjoy the same amount of market dominance that DVD had?

Parsons: Packaged media formats don’t really come along all that often, because each represents a standardized, dependable way to distribute and enjoy content around the world. We knew this when we built the specifications for Blu-ray, since formats like VHS, CD, DVD and even vinyl records tend to stick around for many decades. Blu-ray has continued to gain in popularity over the past six years, with a current household penetration of about one-third of U.S. homes so far, and it hasn't shown any sign of slowing down at all. It’s also encouraging to see that some of the newer releases coming on the market can represent more than half of packaged media sales, indicating that Blu-ray should continue to play a very significant role in the market. … The format has adapted to include many new ways of enjoying content.

Q: For this holiday season, how do you think Blu-ray disc players will stack up against the various alternatives?

Erickson: I think BD players will fare fairly well this holiday season. I think, as always the first and biggest obstacle to pass for the mainstream consumer during the holidays is an accessible price. As we've seen over the last few years, BD players have dropped lower and lower, to where now sub-$100 players are quite common. I think we will see increased segmentation of streaming-only players such as Roku and Apple TV under $100, partially because sub-$100 BD players have applied pressure to those products — BD players offer a more versatile value. As we see more players on Black Friday and during the holidays drop to near-DVD-player pricing, it puts even more pressure on streaming-only boxes. Given the ability to play physical media, and common access to mainstream streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, I think BD players will look quite attractive compared to streaming only devices. Versus game consoles, mainly the PS3 and Xbox 360, I think BD players are attractive due to the lower price points. BD players compare well for the main reason that they sit at significantly different price points in general. ... However, modern game consoles, for a higher price, do offer very competent access to physical and streamed content. The rise in adoption of connected/smart TVs can also be seen as the growth of a future competitor, but that remains a streaming-only proposition. Replacing a TV is also a much more costly, and much more long-timeframe proposition. BD players are accessibly priced and add capabilities to prior TV generations without "smart" features. Overall I think BD players are going to increase in appeal, and compare quite well to alternatives this holiday season primarily because of the value offered for money, when it comes to the ability of people to consume media.

Q: Have you had any feedback from customers regarding the downgrading of rental Blu-ray to remove extras and force the viewing of previews? I am not sure if Sony does this but certainly other studios do.

Marty: We haven’t had any specific feedback on rental discs to date, but on a separate note, we are evaluating the user experience at disc start-up in general. Although there are some legal constraints (logos, FBI warnings, etc.) and we can’t make guarantees, we do want to ensure that the Blu-ray consumer has an optimal experience from start to finish — and are looking closely at what can be achieved.

Q: How does the landscape look in five years? Blu-ray? Streaming? Something we haven’t seen yet?

Erickson: The market as always, is unpredictable, but I think if we extend certain trends we see now, there's a good chance we'll see: 1. Blu-ray continuing as a specific format, much higher capacity than you see today, with 4K, 3D and other potential features being standard. 2. Physical and streamed media sharing equal footing — by this I mean certain use cases will always need physical media. You will not have a stable high-speed Internet connection everywhere and in every place. This is just reality. In these use cases, such as road trips in the middle of nowhere for example, physical media is still key. 3. Pay-TV services will be much more developed in how they allow consumers to consume the content they've subscribed to, on the various screens they own. 4. Blu-ray's content transportability to mobile devices will be mature, and common. 5. Streaming will be far more accepted and understood by consumers today. 6. Lastly, consumers will be much more savvy about consuming digital media in all forms. Overall Blu-ray will still be around I believe, as part of the various ways and means by which people can legitimately purchase and consume media across their varied devices.

Q: Is there a roadmap within BDA to upgrade Blu-ray specs for putting 4K and 8K native video on a BD disc? Is there still no call to do so? If so, why not? One supposition is that many may feel physical media such as BD won't survive long enough to see 4K and 8K content become a reality for the home, and that's why there's no call to upgrade BD. Is that the case?

Parsons: As I’ve said before, there is currently no plan to add 4K or 8K to the Blu-ray specs, so there is no official roadmap for them. But bear in mind that we still don't even have 100% penetration of HDTV sets in the U.S. (currently about 75% or so), so we're still out there promoting the benefits of HDTV to those who haven't taken the plunge yet. The home theater folks are, as always, at the bleeding edge of technology, and it's understandable that those who are clued into 4K are eager to put it to use. If and when we do decide to develop a 4K version of Blu-ray, however, I'm confident that only packaged media will have the capacity and throughput needed to do it justice, since it contains four times the picture information as 1080p — the average U.S. household bandwidth of 5 Mbps is simply not fast enough to handle 1080p reliably, let alone 4K.

http://www.homemediamagazine.com/blu...-blu-ray-27515

[Kosty]

HMM Nielsen Videoscan First Alert Sales Report Week Ending 06/10/12

Disney's 'John Carter' Rises To Top of Disc Sales Charts

By: Thomas K. Arnold


John Carter

The post-Memorial Day onslaught of high-powered theatricals is officially underway, with the top five spots on the national home video sales charts for the week ended June 10 all going to new releases.

Walt Disney Studios’ John Carter snagged the top spot on both the Nielsen VideoScan First Alert sales chart, which tracks overall disc sales, and Nielsen’s dedicated Blu-ray Disc sales chart.

Fox’s Act of Valor finished a close second on both charts, while Universal Studios’ Safe House debuted at No. 3, also on both charts.

The two top sellers earned similar box office revenue — John Carter grossed $72.9 million in U.S. theaters, while Act of Valor grossed $70 million — and both are geared toward the post-Memorial Day action crowd, as is Safe House, starring Denzel Washington, which earned $126.2 million.

All three titles finished within 4% of each other in terms of unit sales, according to Nielsen data.

Warner’s Journey 2: The Mysterious Island debuted at No. 4 on both charts. The family friendly sequel to 2008’s Journey to the Center of the Earth, with a mild ‘PG’ rating, earned $103.6 million in U.S. theaters.

The fifth spot on both sales charts went to a TV DVD release: the complete fourth season of “Breaking Bad,” from Sony Pictures.

Now that Disney also holds back certain titles from rental outlets for 28 days, none of the four top sellers were widely available at Netflix or Redbox and thus failed to make the top 20 on Home Media Magazine’s weekly rental chart.

The top rental for the week ended June 10 was Man on a Ledge, from Lionsgate/Summit, which held on to the No. 1 spot for the second consecutive week.


Related Links :
Top 20 Sellers for the Week Ended 06/10/12

Top 20 Rentals for the Week Ended 06/10/12

Top 20 Selling Blu-ray Discs for the Week Ended 06/10/12

Top 20 Blu-ray Market Share for the Week Ended 06/10/12

http://www.homemediamagazine.com/res...s-charts-27529

[Kosty]

HMM Nielsen Videoscan First Alert Sales Report Week Ending 06/10/12

[Kosty]

HMM Nielsen Videoscan First Alert Sales Report Week Ending 06/10/12

[Kosty]

Here's the Blu-ray Top 4 for the week ending 06/10/12

I don't think I ever saw a distribution like that, at least not in a non holiday sales week.


Top 4 Blu-ray

100.00  John Carter	Disney	
 95.69  Act of Valor	Fox	
 86.08  Safe House	Universal	
 49.15  Journey 2: The Mysterious Island	Warner

Top 4 DVD+BD titles

60%	 100.00  John Carter
59% 	  97.75  Act of Valor
54%	  96.70  Safe House
40%	  74.95  Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

[Kosty]

Blu-ray Unit Sales Trends Through Week Ending 06/03/12