Cornerstone, Big Picture in 3D Blu-ray pact

Cornerstone Media International said it has signed an exclusive sales and distribution agreement with Big Picture Digital Productions, which supplies 3D Blu-ray Disc content and services Imax cinemas.

Technicolor authors 50% of Blu-ray 3D

Replicator and digital services provider Technicolor said it has ramped up pre-production of 3D content on Blu-ray and is set to deliver more than 15 titles.

Sony guidelines call for lower 3D games resolution

Sony PlayStation 3 has the capacity to display 3D in full 1080p resolution, but Sony’s official guidelines tell developers working on 3D titles for the console to stay with 720p resolution, according to the website Joystiq.

Global acceptance of 3D TV is still cloudy

Sales of 3D TV sets and stand-alone Blu-ray Disc players in the United States topped $55 million in the three months after their February launch, according to the NPD Group market research company.

2entertain explores simulated 3D process

The BBC’s home entertainment arm 2entertain said it is testing a new technology that “gives the illusion of 3D”.

French three-strike 'Hadopi' law nears implementation

The French three-strike “Hadopi” law, which was passed in September last year, has moved significantly closer to implementation, according to Billboard magazine.

NEC speeds piracy detection

Japanese IT group, NEC, has developed technology to detect illegal video uploads in seconds. The innovation is part of the MPEG-7 multimedia content.

Cinram initiates CDSA security certification

Cinram International said it has begun the comprehensive process that will lead to CDSA Content Protection and Security certification, the worldwide standard put in place to make the digital content supply chain secure.

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.

MediaWorks expands London lab

Indian film and entertainment service company Reliance MediaWorks has expanded its central London processing lab, doubling the capacity of the Soho operation. Reliance acquired the Poland Street assets of iLab UK earlier this year.

Eyeframe picks up PPC DVD staff and kit

Post-production company Eyeframe said it has expanded its range of DVD and Blu-ray services by taking on five former employees of the Picture Production Company’s DVD division, which closed earlier this year.

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.

New software helps piracy of Blu-ray

One in five renters of home entertainment in the US pirated content in the last half of 2009 and 25% said they burned at least one copy of Blu-ray Disc, according to a poll 2,000 consumers by the Diffusion Group.

Paramount recalls problem Blu-rays

Paramount Home Entertainment has recalled 100,000 copies of a special edition of Steven Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan” on Blu-ray because of audio synchronisation problems.

Deluxe to stream 25m trailers via BD-Live

US-based Deluxe Digital Studios has announced plans to stream 25 million theatrical trailers to internet-connected Blu-ray Disc players by the end of the year using BD-Live.

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.

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.

DLNA names Nokia executive as Chairman

Nokia Personal Media Industry Collaboration Director Nidhish Parikh has been named as Chairman and President of the Digital Living Network Alliance, the trade body that aims to develop standards for sharing content across all devices and players including Blu-ray.

Panasonic players to use RoxioNow streaming software

Sonic Solutions said that starting in the winter Panasonic Blu-ray Disc players and high definition television sets will feature its RoxioNow movie download software.

Logitech names its Google box

Consumer electronics manufacturer Logitech said that its Google TV set-top box will officially be called “Logitech Revue with Google TV”, or “Logitech Revue” for short.

Rovi launches connected TV programme guide

Entertainment technology company Rovi, formerly Macrovision, said its connected TV electronic programme guide TotalGuide will ship with television sets produced by at least two of the big global television manufacturers this autumn.

O2 ends unlimited data for smartphones

UK telecom O2 said it will no longer make unlimited data available to smartphone users and will introduce a tiered set of tariffs for new customers but the firm said the rules would affect only around 3% of its subscribers.

TV Genius earns place on Red Herring Top 100

Personalized television search provider TV Genius said it has won a spot on technology magazine Red Herring’s Top 100 Europe rankings of innovative companies for its Content Discovery Platform.

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.

Multi Packaging Solutions takes 25% green energy

US packaging firm Multi Packaging Solutions, which services the DVD, games and music industries amongst others, said it has switched to 25% green energy at its manufacturing plants in Texas and New Jersey.

Eco route for US packager

US packaging company PKG said it will now use carbon footprint reducing custom moulded trays manufactured by Dutch company PaperFoam Technology.

Blueprint inks localisation deal with Warner

Blueprint Media group has created a new arm — freeform.Production — to focus on entertainment production and localisation.

freeform expands theatrical team

Creative agency freeform.London has appointed Adam Lennard as Senior Account Manager to work on the development of its theatrical business.

Safety hat trick for AGI

AGI’s special packaging plant in Slough, Berkshire, has won the British Safety Council’s International Safety Award 2009 for the third time in a row.

Lovefilm goes wide with Widevine solutions

Lovefilm has signed an agreement with US firm Widevine to provide digital rights management and video optimisation solutions so that content from the subscription and streaming service may be accessed on the widest range of devices.

Amazon sells more ebooks than hardcovers

Online retailer Amazon said that it now sells more electronic books for its Kindle reader in the US than it does hardcover editions. Between April and June 143 Kindle books were purchased for every100 hardback books.

DECE becomes UltraViolet for digital rights locker

The multi-industry consortium Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) has chosen the name UltraViolet for its planned digital rights locker due for launch at the end of the year.

Hallen named CEO at Testronic Labs

International quality assurance specialist Testronic Laboratories, which has operations in the UK, has named US Quality Assurance President Seth Hallen to the post of Chief Executive Officer.

Game adds new mortal for mobile phones

Retailer Game has introduced a portal for mobile phones at mobilestore.game.co.uk so that players may buy games, applications, wallpaper, videos and other content via handsets.

Abbey Home Media hands physical distribution to Cinram

Abbey Home Media has announced that it will shift physical distribution of its products from arvato to Cinram Logistics UK from Sept. 6.

Green Umbrella changes name to G2 Entertainment

Production and distribution firm Green Umbrella said it has changed its name to G2 Entertainment to reflect the company’s growing diversity into different media markets including books, DVDs, music and spoken word CDs, and downloads.

Sony DADC adds Czech facility to supply chain

Sony DADC has extended its European supply chain infrastructure with a new packaging, refurbishment and service centre in Pilsen, Czech Republic.

PHE puts EMI veteran in charge of US domestic operations

Paramount Home Entertainment in the US has named EMI Music SVP of North America Supply Chain Herb Daniel as its new SVP of Domestic Operations.

Warner restructures operations team

Warner Bros.’ Technical Operations said it has reorganised the management of its global distribution operations to increase efficiencies between the studio’s physical and digital businesses.

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.

Gem Logistics and Pegasus in three-year pact

Gem Logistics has signed a three-year agreement with documentary producer Pegasus to manage its complete logistical and distribution requirements in the UK.

HMV puts TXT solutions to work to run inventory

HMV UK said it will use TXT e-Solutions software for demand forecasting and replenishment capabilities as it seeks to reduce inventory and improve shelf space.

Centralised tracking service aims to maximise content profits

Teradata, SAP and Capgemini said they will launch a licensing rights tracking system called Intellectual Property Rights Insight intended to help studios make the most of post-theatrical profits for films and other content.

US states introduce laws for electronic waste recycling

New York has joined 22 other US states in adopting a new electronic waste recycling law that enables people to recycle old VCRs, DVD players and games consoles free of charge.

Companies opt for one-hour delivery window

Mobile phone operator Network Three and online lifestyle gift service iwantoneofthose.com are among companies signing up for one-hour delivery time windows offered nationwide by DPD and Interlink Express, the two UK subsidiaries of GeoPost UK.

Hornby sets merchandise deal for ‘Toy Story’

Hornby, the company that makes Airfix kits, Corgi models and Scalextric racing sets, has signed agreements to create merchandise tied to the Pixar/Disney release “Toy Story 3” and the 2012 Olympiad.

Wal-mart, DreamWorks in ‘Dragon’ tie-in pact

US retailer Wal-mart and DreamWorks Animation have made an agreement covering toys, clothing and other license products tied to the studio’s feature “How To Train Your Dragon”, which opens in the US on March 26 and the UK on March 31.

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.

Walmart boosts interest in international e-commerce

Walmart has stepped up its e-commerce business with the appointment of Eduardo Castro-Wright, President/CEO of Walmart US, to grow its international e-commerce group while continuing to oversee global sourcing operations.

The Hut expands product range ahead of flotation

Digital firm The Hut Group, which was named as the third fastest-growing digital company in Europe at the Media Momentum Awards in May, is expanding its range of services as it moves toward stock market flotation next year, according to The Guardian.

Borders moves into e-books in US

US book retailer Borders Group said it expects its redesigned website and forthcoming Kobo e-book reader, which goes on sale early next month, to offset slumping physical media sales that saw a 16% revenue decline in its first quarter.

Online retail pays high price for returns

The return of unwanted goods is costing the online retail industry more than £9.4 billion a year, with the film, music and books sector registering as the second highest offender after clothes, according to new research.

Hut Group set to launch Gifted.com for online gifting

The Hut Group said it will enter the online gifting market in May with the launch of Gifted.com following a successful six-month trial retailing a broad range of gifting products on its general retail website, TheHut.com.

EYE ON THE SUPPLY: Hot-spots or not-spots?

Cue Supply Chain’s Bob Auger considers all the promises about superfast broadband and wonders what internet speed will really be like in 2015

EYE ON THE SUPPLY: GETTING THE BEST ADVICE

Cue Supply Chain’s Bob Auger goes shopping in hopes of getting high quality assistance but finds that it’s in short supply.

EYE ON THE SUPPLY: Keeping 3D in perspective

Thanks to a big promotional push, most consumers know that 3D in the home is imminent, but Cue Supply’s Bob Auger says there are still many hurdles and issues to be resolved.

EYE ON THE SUPPLY: Defining the issue of ownership

As the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers meets to debate standards for digital content, Cue Supply Chain’s Bob Auger ponders who owns what in the world of online publishing.

Eye on the Supply: Making sense of VOD windows

Cue Supply Chain’s Bob Auger ponders the way the US and the UK look at content windows and takes a sideways look at online TV.

ChoicesUK launches ‘rent it here’ DVD rentals at local stores

Home entertainment supplier ChoicesUK has announced a new rental system called “rent it here” using electronic touch screens that let consumers choose and rent DVDs and Blu-ray Discs at their local convenience store.

Plenty of room for Blu-ray Discs, says Redbox

US DVD rental kiosk operator Redbox said there is enough room in its vending machines for Blu-ray Discs to be added by the middle of the year without displacing DVDs.

NCR upgrades Blockbuster US website for kiosks

United States customers of the Blockbuster Express website can now rent up to three DVDs online and collect them at their nearest kiosk following an upgrade by the retailer’s vending machine operator NCR Corp.

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.

Francisco Partners acquires Grass Valley from Technicolor

Technicolor has sold its Grass Valley Broadcast and Professional business firm to California-based private equity firm Francisco Partners, which specialises in technology companies.

Sonic Solutions sees Q4 net income grow

US disc replicator Sonic Solutions reported net income of more than $1.1 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, up from $328,000 in the same period in 2009.

EcoDisc reduces carbon footprint

A UK firm has launched a lighter and more environmentally friendly optical disc, which is playable in standard DVD devices.

WHV's De Crisnay heads Technicolor transition

Warner Home Video has promoted Vice President, International Philippe Bastard de Crisnay to the newly created role of Senior Vice President International Sales Planning and Operations.

Ascent strengthens management team

Ascent Media Group, which provides creative, technical and content distribution services to the entertainment industry, has appointed David Walters to Senior Vice President of Global Technical Operations and Infrastructure and Eric Denna to Senior Vice President of Global Process Design.

Music fans blow away idea of the cloud

Most music fans are not interested in using multiple devices to listen to their favourite tracks, according to a US study by Forrester Research, puncturing the notion that the cloud has great appeal.

Record stores decline further as buyers buy discs online

A survey by consumer watchdog Which? has found that the vast majority of music purchases made last year were CDs. More than 75% of the 2263 people polled bought discs with less than a quarter buying digital downloads.

UK spending less on media, survey

UK consumers are spending less on traditional and digital media than they were six months ago, but are consuming more, according to a YouGov survey of online and offline media consumption commissioned by KPMG UK.

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.

Games retailer Chipsworld goes into liquidation

Games retailer Chipsworld said it has entered liquidation, resulting in 29 job losses at head office and further redundancies caused by 12 UK store closures. It said 13 franchised stores and the www.chipsworld.co.uk website will continue trading.

Apple sells 1.7m iPhone 4s in three days

Apple said that 1.7 million units of its new iPhone 4 were sold within three days of its introduction despite production hold-ups.

Pre-owned games market hurting new sales: report

Videogame sales have been hurt by the growing high street trade in pre-owned titles, according to a report by analysts Cowen and Company.

DSG International switches back Dixons Retail

DSG International, which owns Currys and PC World, said it will change its name back to Dixons Retail after five years to make it easier to recognize internationally.

Best Buy reports drop in packaged media sales

US retailer Best Buy said its international stores had an 11% year-on-year increase to $2.9 billion in the first quarter with European partner Carphone Warehouse recording an increase of 5%.

Total Film magazine launches first phone app

Total Film said it will target young moviegoers with the launch in August of its first smartphone application, which was developed in-house and will cost users £1.79 for news, reviews and trailers, and information on cinema listings and show times.

Gamers still prefer discs

Despite the rise of digital distribution formats, 64% of console consumers still prefer to buy their games on disc, according to a survey by Ipsos MediaCT.

Google eyes living room

Google will extend its ever-expanding tentacles into the TV market today when it unveils new software specifically made for the small screen at a conference in San Francisco for 3,000 IT programmers.

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.

Gardners launches CD wholesale service

Gardners, the leading UK wholesaler of DVDs, Blu-ray Discs and Books, said it has launched a CD wholesale service.

MSE Group names Jerry Flynn to head Irish operations

Wholesaler MSE Group has announced that entertainment industry veteran Jerry Flynn will join MSE Ireland as General Manager from August.

Bertrams’ success boosts Smith News

Wholesaler Smiths News reported a year-on-year increase of 38% in the 19 weeks ending July 1 citing its 2009 acquisition of books wholesaler Bertrams from the Woolworths administrators.

MBL Group takes stake in U-Xplore

Entertainment wholesaler MBL Group plc said today it will pay £2 million in cash for a 15% stake in careers adviser U-Xplore as part of a move to widen its delivery of digital content.

MSE seals leisure deal

UK and Ireland entertainment wholesaler MSE Group said it has become the principal supplier of home entertainment to the leisure sector after striking a deal to service 140 separate holiday centre and leisure park outlets across the UK including the Centre Parcs Villages, Haven Holidays and Butlins resorts.