Posted by David Z on 10/20/05 17:02

Acceptance of DVD = acceptance of widescreen.

Most DVD movie releases are widescreen.

"Black Locust" <bl2112@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:bl2112-34118E.20493119102005@news.uswest.net...
> 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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