Posted by Black Locust on 10/20/05 02:49

While I still think the "I need a widescreen TV in order to watch
widescreen DVDs." argument is utter bullshit largely perpetrated by Joe
Sixpacks who hate the "black bars," this news is still a good sign of
things to come..


Widescreen DVDs spread - Along with wider TV sets
By Susanne Ault

The mainstream consumer is going wide. For years, the average DVD buyer
overwhelmingly prefered fullscreen versions of DVDs, as the square shape
of traditional TV sets diminished letterboxed images of the sort
featured on widescreen versions of disc releases. Nevermind that the
pan-and-scan process necessary to produce fullscreen crops portions of
the filmed image from movies.

But with the spread of widescreen TV sets, tastes are shifting
noticeably toward widescreen versions of disc releases. Wholesaler
Ingram Entertainment reports that its DVD orders now split 50-50 between
wide- and fullscreen versions of titles, compared with an order-rate of
75% fullscreen just two years ago.

A representative of specialty retailer Tower reports noting an uptick of
about 5% in widescreen purchases over the past year, though the broadest
releases such as Buena Vista Home Entertainment's Oct. 4 Cinderella
still sell 75% in fullscreen versions. And renters at New England chain
Tommy K's have swung from a one-time 70% preference for fullscreen to
more of a 50-50 split in recent months. Video Buyers Group stores
estimate demand for widescreen versions at 40% of total rentals compared
with 25% a year ago.

Occasionally, studios such as MGM Home Entertainment have released a
title with fullscreen and widescreen versions on one disc. But
generally, bonus features take up too much disc space to satisfy both
consumer types in this fashion. It should be noted that Wal-Mart and
mass merchants generally appear as gung ho as ever on fullscreen
ordering. Yet clutter concerns are prompting studios to streamline
title options when possible.

In August, Buena Vista bowed Sin City in widescreen only. Earlier this
year, First Look Home Entertainment decided to release all of its films
exclusively in widescreen.

You may want to go out with two [versions per title] because you're apt
to get more presence at retail," Buena Vista Senior VP brand marketing
Lori MacPherson said. "But you have to balance that with simplicity. You
don't want to overwhelm the consumer with too many choices." Buena Vista
looks at each title individually to determine whether dual versions are
worth while, she said.

Since permanently benching fullscreen, First Look is pleased with title
sales at most retailers, including Wal-Mart. "I think the retailers and
the consumers are becoming more educated about DVD." First Look senior
VP sales Bill Bromiley said. "It's not this cool new toy, and people are
a lot more forgiving to its nuances."

Lions Gate Home Entertainment puts out most DVD premiers as widescreen
only. For its major films, the studio decides on the format on a case by
case basis. "We have that conversation every time," said Anne Parducci,
Lions Gate executive VP family entertainment and marketing. "How many
SKUs [stock keeping units] do you need to meet retail and consumer
needs?"

Adams Media Research reports that by end of 2005, there will be 20
millions to 30 million households with digital TV sets, a 30% one-year
jump. "It used to be that just the connoisseurs liked widescreen," Adams
Media Research's Tom Adams said. "But prices are plummeting, and you can
get a pretty decent [widescreen set] for less than a grand."

This was taken from the October 10 issue of Video Business Magazine.
--
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we.
They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people,
and neither do we." - George Dumbya Bush

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