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Updated July 9, 2006

DVD NEWS DIGEST
(June 19, 2006)


June 24 - Billboard: Top 10 DVDs in US

1 - Date Movie 20th Century Fox
2 - High School Musical: Encore Edition Buena Vista Home Entertainment
3 - Cheaper By The Dozen 2 20th Century Fox
4 - Freedomland Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
5 - The Chronicles Of Narnia Walt Disney Home Entertainment
6 - Riddick Trilogy Universal Studios Home Video
7 - Nanny McPheeUniversal Studios Home Video
8 - The Ringer FoxVideo
9 - Munich Universal Studios Home Video
10 - Big Momma's House 2 FoxVideo


June 17 - Guardian [UK]: Police Raid Smashes DVD Piracy Ring

Two men and a woman were arrested and industrial premises in Harlow, Essex, thought to be the supplier and sustaining the production of pirate DVDs by criminal gangs in the south-east and home counties, were also raided.

Three men were arrested there on suspicion of conspiracy to launder the proceeds of criminal conduct and conspiracy to produce counterfeit film products.

Detective Trevor Shepherd, leading the investigation, said: "The arrests are key in closing down a large proportion of the film piracy industry in the south east. By working with our partners we have been able to take a pre-emptive strike against the top tier of a successful criminal network."

WOOD-TV: DVD teaches kids about dangers of Lake Michigan rip currents

Vince Deur is the brain behind the soon to be Adventures of Sammy the Salmon. "We really wanted to start younger and reach kids in elementary school when they are just learning how to swim and teach them about beach and water safety," said Dreur.

Deur is hoping the DVD will help kids connect and understand rip currents. He also wants to be sure people don't mis-interpret the message.

"Our DVD really worked hard at teaching people about the power of the lakes. But maybe in some people's minds that was too much because basically in the summer-time on lake Michigan there are hundreds of beautiful perfectly safe days on the beach, yet some people misunderstood what we were trying to say about rip currents, and thought that the current is always there snatching them away. That it's a monster under the water under the surface," said Deur.


MoviesOnline: 49% of Movie Goers Prefer Watching films on DVD

According to a recent U.S. national study by Guideline, 85 percent of consumers typically watch movies at home on the small screen. Even when it’s a movie they want to see, 49 percent of respondents said they usually wait to purchase or rent the DVD.

Guideline’s study affirms that DVD spending and consumption remain strong with more people enjoying movies from the comfort of their homes than in the movie theater.

According to Guideline’s survey, men are more likely (28 percent) to go to the cinema to see the movie before it comes out on DVD, and women are more likely (31 percent) to wait for the movie to be released on DVD so they can rent it. Gender aside, 22 percent usually go to see the movie on the big screen first.

Guideline’s survey indicated that 56 percent said releasing the DVD shortly after a movie comes out has no effect on their motivation to buy or rent the movie. And, another 20 percent say that they think it must be a bad movie and are less motivated to buy or rent it.

Regardless of when the DVD is released, sales continue to grow. According to the 2005-2009 Communications Industry Forecast on The DVD Market, DVD spending grew 33 percent to $21.29 billion in 2004 and DVD rental sales grew 39.2 percent to $5.73 billion in 2004.

Evening Times [Scotland]: DVD is enterprise training tool

A DVD is being launched as a training tool for the social enterprise sector, which is now worth £2.2billion to the Scottish economy, employing around 30,000 people in more than 1100 firms.

Social enterprise companies carry out a social mission or objective, but trade as a normal business selling services and expertise on a commercial basis. All profits are then re-invested into the organisation.

Now one of Scotland's most successful social enterprises, the award-winning Kibble Education and Care Centre in Paisley, has produced a DVD for up-and-coming organisations. It is being distributed free after being supported by Communities Scotland and the European Social Fund Objective 3 Programme.

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