Technicolor wins its first 3D systems pact

Technicolor said will install its 3D System for 35mm film projectors for 25 screens at 18 movie houses operated by Bow Tie Cinemas in New York.

Industry alliance to offer 3D training

Pioneering 3D training for the UK film and television industries will be available through a groundbreaking partnership between Skillset, Sky and the UK Film Council.

Sony to update BD players for 3D

Sony Corp. is to make a firmware update available in the US this summer to upgrade a range of 3D capable Blu-ray Disc players in time for 3D releases from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment and DreamWorks Animation.

Public is ready for 3D TV sets at home: report

With television sets expected to fall in price in the US for the first time since the flat panel TV transition began, manufacturers are looking at new combinations including 3D to re-value their products and maintain consumer interest.

Samsung, DreamWorks hatch ‘Monster’ 3D plot

Samsung 3D-capable HDTVs and Blu-ray 3D players will include an exclusive promotion of a new 3D version of DreamWorks’ hit 2009 release, “Monsters vs. Aliens”.

New online payment system for content

Pirate Bay co-Founder Petter Sunde has created a new project called Flattr, which hopes to reward copyright owners when members consume their content online.

EC to keep an eye on Virgin Media file-sharing study

The European Commission said it will monitor closely a planned trial by UK cable TV and broadband company Virgin Media to gauge the level of illegal filesharing by subscribers on its networks to ensure civil liberty issues are not threatened.

Rights owners should foot file sharing bill, says Sky

Rights owners should pay for anti-file sharing enforcement, not ISPs, according to Sky in a nine-page response to the Department for Business, Innovation and Science consultation.

Eircom blocks Pirate Bay after court order

Eircom, the largest telecom supplier in Ireland with nearly 700,000 broadband subscribers, has acted to block access to The Pirate Bay following the July 24 High Court order that required the company to prevent its customers from accessing the illegal filesharing website from Sept. 1.

Kaleidescape ruled illegal, plans appeal

Kaleidescape, the system designed to copy DVD discs to a home media server, appears to have lost its five-year case against the DVD Copy Control Association (DVD-CCA), after a California court ruled that the system is illegal.

Blu-ray volumes up for Technicolor in 'a challenging' 2009

Blu-ray volumes for replicator Technicolor increased 38% year-on-year in the second half of 2009 to 36 million units, helping offset a 22% decline in DVD manufacture to 622 million units, the company said.

Panasonic adds Blu-ray 3D authoring at California lab

A Blu-ray Disc authoring facility capable of making 3D discs available commercially by spring has been unveiled at the Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory in Universal City, CA.

Thomson SA changes name to Technicolor

Paris-based set-top box and telecom equipment manufacturer Thomson SA has changed its name to Technicolor after shareholders accepted its debt-restructuring plan.

US trailer firm Trailer Park adds 3D service

US production company Trailer Park, which makes trailers and commercials for many of the top Hollywood studios, has launched 3D Blu-ray operations following the Blu-ray Disc Association’s completion of the 3D specification last month.

Blu-ray capacity shrinks as demand rises

Shrinking Blu-ray authoring capacity could jeopardise independent production schedules later this year especially if consumer demand takes off as forecast, facility executives have warned.

Top manufacturers form new Blu-ray patent group

Mitsubishi, Thomson Licensing, Toshiba and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment have formed a new worldwide Blu-ray patent joint licensing programme for manufacturers of Blu-ray products.

Flipper disc gets mixed reception

Universal’s latest bid to beef up Blu-ray sales, the “flipper disc” which features high definition content on one side and a standard DVD version on the other, has had a mixed response from the “enthusiast community”, according to the Blu-ray.com website.

Sharp sets TV with Blu-ray and 3D

Consumer electronics manufacturer Sharp plans to release a 3D LCD television set incorporating a Blu-ray player with 3D capability by the end of the year.

Studios set out big plans for BD Live

Four major Hollywood studios have outlined their plans to make greater use of the Blu-ray Disc internet connection BD Live in ways that should directly benefit retailers and marketing departments.

Toshiba to produce laptop with Blu-ray drive

Japanese manufacturer Toshiba said it will include a Blu-ray Disc drive in its new series of laptop computers, Qosmio X500, to be available Oct. 22.

ESCA: Seeking growth in emerging markets

Resources for tackling piracy and a greater focus from retail and studios are required to a maximise the development of emerging markets in the home entertainment sector, Jean Claude Torbey of Middle East entertainment distributor Rotana Home Entertainment told delegates at ESCA.

IBC pleased with attendance despite fall in numbers

“IBC is the most important show for me,” said SVP of Deutsche Telecom, Dieter Engel, as the doors closed on the 2009 International Broadcasting Convention in Amsterdam this week. Attendances (excluding exhibitors) numbered 45,547, exceeding expectations and less than 5% down on the previous year.

IBC faces challenges posed by 3D

Day one, IBC 2009: David Hill, Chairman and CTO of Fox Sports Television Group, promised the audience, “A lion in your lap – a lover in your arms” at the conference session marking the first day of IBC2009, the content creation, management and delivery event, which takes place in Amsterdam in September every year.

ESCA comes to Europe to discuss pressing issues

The Entertainment Retailing & Supply Chain Academy (ESCA) comes to London in September for its third annual outing in Europe bringing industry leaders together at a time of almost unprecedented difficult trading conditions.

Asda to stress home entertainment at conference

UK supermarket Asda says it will underline its commitment to entertainment categories at its trade conference on music, video and games at Oulton Hall near Leeds on July 21.

Apple's iPad set for an April launch

Apple’s iPad tablet computer is slated to go on sale in the US on April 3 and “late April” in the UK and elsewhere, according to the company’s websites.

Set-top box maker Pace tops £1 billion in revenues

Yorkshire-based technology group Pace said its shipments of high definition set-top boxes to customers such as BSkyB, DirecTV and Canal Plus were up year-on-year by 31% to 17.2 million in the year ending Dec. 31, making it second only to Motorola as the largest provider in the world.

Blockbuster to deliver T-Mobile downloads

Blockbuster in the US will be the exclusive provider of movie downloads for T-Mobile’s upcoming HD2 smart phone, which features a 4.3-inch screen, compared with Apple iPhone’s 3.5-inch screen.

Sony warns of US PS3 shortages

Retailers in the US may face shortages of Sony’s PS3 console over coming weeks after strong demand during the Christmas period, Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) warned.

Telcos unite for apps platform

Some 24 leading mobile phone operators have formed the Wholesale Applications Community (WAC), an alliance aiming to build an open platform to deliver applications to all mobile phone users.

Rovi swaps loss for profit

Search specialist Rovi has reported a $2.6 million profit on revenues of $138 million for the fourth quarter, reversing a $211.2 million loss a year ago.

Ofcom consults on Freeview HD content copying

High Definition film and TV content will be available on Freeview HD much earlier in the free-to-air release window, if UK watchdog Ofcom approves BBC proposals.

Increased turnover prompts Shorewood staff promotions

Packaging and production company Shorewood.blueprint has promoted Commercial Director Julian Ward to Managing Director and upped UK sales chief Kash Sohl to Sales Director Home Entertainment Europe.

Belgian firm sets up animated graphics technology

A start-up company in Belgium called Lumoza has developed technology that allows electronic displays on surfaces including plastic foil, paper or cardboard so that computer animation can be displayed on DVD packages or billboards.

Scanavo multi-disc box makes waves

Media packaging specialist Scanavo has introduced an innovative multi-disc DVD box aimed at the market for TV series packaging called the Wave box.

Robin Taylor joins Shorewood.blueprint

Robin Taylor has joined Shorewood.blueprint from AGI Media to handle specialised packaging for home entertainment products.

AGI Amaray announces 4-disc Verso case

Aiming to be both versatile and green, AGI Amaray has introduced the Verso Stacking Hub DVD Case, which houses up to four discs securely without the need for extra trays, and uses less plastic than conventional cases.

Deluxe snaps up digital service MediaRecall

Digital cinema-to-DVD services provider Deluxe Entertainment Services Group has bought the assets of Chicago-based MediaRecall Holdings.

Netflix finds streaming success

Almost two-thirds of US rentals-by-post giant Netflix’s users that have broadband in their homes are now viewing the “Watch Instantly” streaming video service, according to new media research firm TDG.

Digital market to reach $233 billion in US, report

The US home digital entertainment market will be worth $233 billion by 2013, according to research company In-Stat.

Google leads video viewing but Hulu tops 1bn in United States

Nearly 178 million US internet users watched online video during December with a record 33.2 billion videos viewed during the month, according to digital analyst ComScore.

Brickbox acquires Hungary’s Media Vision

Brickbox Digital Media, which provides optical digital media services to the film, music and publishing industries, has acquired Hungarian service provider Media Vision.

‘Inglourious’ phone ad works for USHE

An industry-first mobile phone advertisement in the United States promoting Universal Studios Home Entertainment’s DVD and Blu-ray Disc release of “Inglourious Basterds” has “surpassed expectations”, according to Adgregate Markets, who supplied the technology.

Paramount offers film clips to businesses

Paramount Pictures has introduced an online video clip service that allows business customers to license key scenes or pieces of dialogue from films such as “Top Gun” (pictured) and “The Godfather” for commercial use.

Electronic Arts reduces discs, eyes internet games

A reduction in the number of physical releases will help games publisher Electronic Arts in its drive to save $100 million by cutting 1,500 jobs by the end of next March, said company CEO John Riccitiello.

The Producers pulls out of Trilogy deal

Mastertronic Group-owned video games logistics specialist The Producers has pulled out of a joint venture with Trilogy Logistics to create a “super-distributor” to rival Gem Centresoft and Koch Media.

Electronic Arts buys Playfish, reports losses, layoffs

US videogame giant Electronic Arts reported losses widened year on year from $310 million to $391 million in its second quarter and said it would lay off 1,500 employees. It also announced the acquisition of social gaming and networking company Playfish in a deal that could be worth $400 million.

Supplier-buyer deals could save £6.1bn: report

Retail and wholesale distribution could cut costs by £6.1 billion annually through mutually beneficial supplier-buyer deals, according to research from the Gap Partnership and the Centre for Economic & Business Research (CEBR).

New financing model could save millions: report

A report from the Procurement Intelligence Unit (PIU) suggests that a new financing model could improve working capital levels for small suppliers.

Firms more positive on credit supply

UK businesses are less negative about the supply of credit than they were in the first quarter of the year, according to the Confederation of British Industry’s latest Access to Finance Survey.

M2 Engineering moves its optical disc operation

M2 Engineering AB said that by April 1 it will transfer its optical disc business to its M2 ODA International division, which will exclusively market, sell and support M2 equipment and spare parts.

Sony moves Pitman DVD production to Indiana

The Sony Corporation said it will move DVD production from its DADC plant at Pitman, New Jersey, to its DVD plant at Terre Haute, Indiana, to save money.

Apple applies tougher checks on supply chain practises

Apple has uncovered evidence in its supply chain of child labour, improper hazardous waste disposal, false records and suppliers signing contracts with uncertified vendors.

Videogames via kiosks schemes dropped in US

A lack of response by consumers has resulted in Wal-mart and Best Buy in dropping a service that made videogames available via kiosks in the United States.

Walmart insists on GDSN for data

US discount giant Walmart insists that by the end of January all its suppliers conform to the industry standard Global Data Synchronisation Network (GDSN) enabling them to exchange data electronically for item creation and maintenance.

HMV signs up Sugar's Amscreen

Home entertainment retailer HMV has appointed Alan Sugar’s digital signage company Amscreen as partner for its tickets service.

Asda trials close-proximity signage from Amscreen

Asda has signed digital signage company Amscreen to install “close-proximity” video screens at its Keighly futurestore. The wireless flat-screen units, which include a separate LED display for text messaging, require no additional cabling or IT infrastructure within the site.

Walmart cuts corrugate displays, studios concerned

Walmart stores in the United States are introducing a clean-floor policy that means corrugate displays for DVD and Blu-ray Discs are being eliminated and studios are worried about its impact on sales.

Mobile barcode readers in 120 million handsets

“Fast and easy internet access on the move” is the promise from 3GVision, which has announced that over 120 million mobile users worldwide now use its 2D barcode reader to access the web on their mobile devices.

Price not the only key to promotions: report

A new report titled “Retailers: Making Promotions Pay Their Way” details how promotions can be used aggressively to achieve more than just awareness and a short-term sales lift.

Consumer watchdog warns of online retail rules violations

High street retailers Game and Marks and Spencer have responded to charges by consumer watchdog Which? that they were among thousands of UK etailers failing to comply with internet retail regulations.

US retailer Target in new online store

Oracle, IBM and Endeca will be among partners helping US discount chain Target develop a new Target.com eCommerce platform.

Best Buy revamps UK website ahead of opening for business

US electronics retailer Best Buy, which has entered into a 50/50 joint venture with Carphone Warehouse in the UK to bring its big-box stores to Europe starting this spring, has this week launched a revamped UK website.

New Shutl services aims for quick local delivery

A 90-minute service between click and delivery is promised by internet start-up Shutl, which has launched a pilot service in the UK. The service unites local courier capacity and retail store networks in order to fulfil online orders within minutes rather than hours.

‘Corrie’ gets a brand new online shop

Fans of “Coronation Street” have a new place to fill all their home entertainment and memorabilia needs connected to the show with the launch by ITV Studios Global Entertainment of a new direct-to-customer online store at ITV.com/Corrie.

US kiosk maker NCR reports better results than expected

NCR Corp., which makes automated teller machines and DVD rental kiosks including 10,000 for Blockbuster Express this year, reported a net loss of $56 million in the fourth quarter ending Dec. 31 compared to net income of $55 million in the same period in 2008.

Movie Gallery closes more stores, files bankruptcy again

US video rental chain Movie Gallery has filed for bankruptcy protection for the second time since 2007 and plans to close 800 of its remaining 2,600 Movie Gallery and Hollywood Video stores.

Netflix to stream movies via Nintendo Wii

US DVD-by-mail rental operator Netflix has struck a deal with Nintendo to stream thousands of movies and TV episodes into homes via the games giant’s Wii consoles.

Netflix sees DVD giving way to streaming, but not yet

US rentailer Netflix, which has just struck a deal with Warner Bros. that will delay rental of the studio’s films until 28 days after their retail release, will still stay in the DVD-by-mail business until 2030, according to company CEO Reed Hastings.

Netflix adds instant streaming with BD-Live

Subscribers to US online DVD and Blu-ray rental service Netflix who have a PlayStation 3 will have access to “instant streaming” of films, TV content and other titles in the Netflix library, following a deal with software developer Related Content Database (RCDb).

Cinram sees Q4 profit rise, views future without Warner

Canadian DVD and CD replicators Cinram reported adjusted gross profit up year-on-year by 37% to $111.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2009 and a net loss from continuing operations of $17.3 million for the full year ending Dec. 31 compared with net earnings of $21.4 million in 2008.

Cinram stock plunges as WHV switches to Technicolor

Shares in Cinram fell 62% after it revealed that Warner Home Video (WHV) has given notice to end its worldwide contract with the giant Canada headquartered CD and DVD replicator at the end of July. WHV announced that it will move to Technicolor for its DVD and Blu-ray Disc services.

Arvato launches service for catalogue repertoire

Arvato Digital Services used this year’s MIDEM music market in Cannes to launch a low volume “burning service” for CDs and DVDs.

EDCI names Fitzgerald to top posts in Germany

European supply chain services provider to the optical disc market EDCI has appointed John Fitzgerald as Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of the company’s German operating subsidiary, EDC GmbH, in Hanover.

Cinram upgrades plant with voice-picking system

Replicator Cinram Logistics UK has installed a new voice-directed picking (VDP) system at its Buckinghamshire operation as part of a comprehensive modernisation project at the site.

Consumers not unwilling to pay for online content: report

The vast majority (85%) of 27,000 consumers across 52 countries surveyed by researcher Nielsen would prefer free online content to remain free, but there are indications that consumers are willing to consider paying for particular categories, especially if they have done so before.

Tablets to drive mobile video: report

Netbook and tablet computers, such as Apple’s new iPad, are more likely to introduce new people to viewing video on the go than cannibalise MP3 player sales, IMS Research predicts.

TNS rebrands as Kantar Worldpanel

Researcher TNS Worldpanel said it has rebranded as Kantar Worldpanel as part of a move to reflect its ownership by advertising giant WPP, which bought TNS in 2008 and folded it into its market insight arm Kantar.

Smaller companies must mind their business: report

Almost one half of small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) have no proper system in place for chasing unpaid invoices, according to new figures from government advice and support service Business Link.

Blu-ray set to join internet-connected boom: report

Internet-connected television sets and Blu-ray Disc players will be at the forefront of 78% year-on-year global growth in internet video device shipments in 2010, according to report from IMS Research.

Poundland’s Dave Dodd to open new variety chain

Dave Dodd, who founded the retail chain Poundland, said he will open a new chain of mid-market variety shops called The Hub, along the lines of TK Maxx, according to Retail Week.

Eason takes over seven Hughes & Hughes airport bookshops

Irish bookseller Eason said it has acquired seven airport outlets from Hughes & Hughes, the book chain that went into administration in February, and saved 120 jobs in the process.

Tesco closes Middlewich; promises jobs to workers

Tesco said it will offer other work to 426 employees whose jobs will be lost following the decision to close its distribution depot in Middlewich, Cheshire, and shift operations to its larger centre in Goole, Yorkshire.

Irish bookseller Hughes and Hughes into receivership

Hughes and Hughes, which at one stage had 24 bookstores in Ireland the UK, has gone into receivership citing decreased consumer demand, online rivals, and a fall in the numbers of consumers using its airport outlets.

Wal-mart aims to slash carbon emissions

US discount retailer Wal-Mart plans to cut 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gasses from its global supply chain by 2015, the equivalent of taking nearly 4 million cars a year off the road, the company said.

Rovi to appeal court decision on patents

Digital entertainment technology company Rovi, formerly Macrovision, is to appeal against a UK High Court ruling that three of its Gemstar EPG TV guide patents are invalid.

Apple to make clear terms and conditions, OFT says

Apple Inc has agreed to amend terms and conditions relating to its download business in the UK to make them clearer and fairer for consumers, following questions voiced by the Office of Fair Trading.

MySpace concedes to Facebook, targets music instead

Internet site MySpace aims to be at the heart of online music and entertainment and not compete with Facebook as a social networking site, according to the News Corp.-owned site’s new chief executive.

New technology provides BD Live without a disc

US interactive specialist Related Content Database (RCDb) in the United States has developed new technology that allows owners of Blu-ray Disc players access to BD Live material without requiring a disc in the player.

IBM WebSphere tracks ‘internet of things’

IBM has introduced software that uses RFID tags to track not only identity and location but also environmental conditions. “WebSphere Sensor Events” brings together data from sensors throughout the supply chain to enable customers to spot actionable events and make the appropriate business decisions.

ChoicesUK revamps its convenience operations

Home entertainment wholesaler ChoicesUK said it will streamline its convenience rental offer with the possible loss of six sales jobs from its 350-strong workforce.

MBL adds WHSmith to its supply pacts

The MBL Group, which already has agreements with Best Buy Europe and Morrisons, announced a two-year pact to supply DVD and Blu-ray Discs to WHSmith’s 448 UK high street stores.

New owner Gem rebrands Trilogy as Gem Logistics

Entertainment and software wholesaler Gem has rebranded Trilogy, which it acquired late last year after the physical distributor went into administration, as Gem Logistics, pledging to commit “significant investment to developing and growing the business”.

MBL Group sees Q3 sales up by 30.1%

MBL Group – whose wholesaling subsidiary Music Box Leisure supplies DVDs, videogames and CDs to Morrisons, Somerfield, WHSmith and other stores – reported total sales up year-on-year by 30.1% to £84.8 million in the third quarter ending Dec. 31.

MBL Group reports sales up by 124%

UK home entertainment distributor MBL Group – whose wholesaling subsidiary Music Box Leisure supplies Morrisons, WHSmith and general convenience stores – saw sales increase year-on-year by 124% to £78.2 million in the six months ending Sept. 30.