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Media
Information > Media DVD Coverage 
Archive
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| Updated November 29, 2004 DVD
NEWS DIGEST
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Dawn Of The Dead (Widescreen) Universal Studios Home Video Nov. 15 - Japan Economic Journal: Japanese Firms Clamp Down On Pirated DVDs Animation production companies have started taking tougher measures to fight pirated DVD imports in a tie-up Japan's top online auction site operator. Pirated DVDs are mainly traded in Japan through Internet auction sites. Under the tie-up, companies belonging to the Association of Japanese Animations will ask the online operator to immediately remove any pirated DVDs found on its auction site. Companies in the association have also asked customs-clearance houses nationwide to prohibit imports of pirated DVDs.
China’s exports of DVD players in the third quarter of this year decreased 20%-30%, due to an investigation of patent infringement by the US International Trade Commission (ITC). In response to the investigation, China-based makers stopped exporting DVD players to the US, to avoid potentially punitive customs duties, which accounted for the reduction in third-quarter exports to the US. In addition, a competitive local market in China pushed the retail price of DVD players to as low as 500 yuan (US$60), driving some China-based makers of DVD players to switch production to EVD (enhanced versatile disc) players.
Wal-Mart Stores has cut the price of its DVD Standard Plan by 7.5 percent, from $18.76 a month to $17.36. The reduction trumps recent price cuts from Netflix and Blockbuster, which now offer similar plans for $17.99 and $17.49, respectively. The price wars are helping fuel demand for what may be the lowest-tech high-tech business around. While Internet companies start to lay the groundwork for true video-on-demand service, the DVD-by-mail business has already gone a long way toward replacing the old video store rental business. The retail giants could soon be facing sharper competition from local outlets, in the form of kiosks offering 99-cent-a-day DVD rentals.
Some hire stores have already stopped stocking VHS videos and more are expected to follow next year as technology's new generation takes over. More than half Australian households have DVD players as consumers demand the latest equipment. DVD player prices fell to around $100. Australia's $1 billion a year film sales market is 95 per cent based on DVD. Nov. 4 - AP: A DVD player you can wear Watching DVD's is now a lot easier. A DVD player can be connected to goggles that have a small screen at the bottom of the right eye. The goggles also have earphones. The system includes the goggles, a portable DVD player with rechargeable battery and a custom made carrying bag. The glasses can be connected to any of your home video devices, like a VCR, computer, video game or baby watch.
New study by TDG Research suggests that nearly one in four consumer electronics devices will include Networked DVD functionality by 2010. A related study forecasts that the majority of converged devices will be not be based on PC reference designs but rather on traditional CE platforms that combine DVD functionality with network capability. Consumers understand the ease of use and features of a DVD player, said Predrag Filipovic, a consulting analyst with TDG Research. Any manufacturer hoping to succeed in the converged home media space should look to leverage a platform or feature set with which consumers are comfortable.
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