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  • Could Angelina Jolie do for Blu-ray what Keanu Reeves did for DVD?


    The idea that one movie could transform a technology from niche to mainstream may seem extreme.
    Yet that is what Craig Kornblau, president of Universal Studios home entertainment, is suggesting will be the effect of the yet-to-be released new thriller starring Angelina Jolie.
    The studio executive believes the film’s highly visual nature could be the trigger to mass sales of Blu-ray devices.
    James McAvoy plays an average guy who’s recruited by Jolie to become a contract assassin.
    Kornblau told Variety Magazine he thought Wanted, which is released in US cinemas on Friday, could do for HD disks what The Matrix did for the standard-def DVD.
    The Matrix, a sci-fi action hit starring Reeves, was an immediate success on DVD, particularly in the sell-through category.
    Previously, most DVD owners were satisfied with renting movies.
    “What The Matrix did for DVD, this could do for Blu-ray,” said Kornblau.
    Variety reported that an audience at an LA Film Festival screening of Wanted applauded the action scenes half-a-dozen times, a reaction unseen since the premiere of The Matrix.
    Kornblau, who was attending the festival, did not say when the movie would be available on Blu-ray.
    But the studio could be preparing to coincide the release with the much speculated introduction of Blu-ray players priced at under US $200.

  • HDTV sets will need new features for sales to continue improving

    Manufacturers will have to install features currently only available as paid-for add-ons in top-of-the-range HDTV models if sales growth is to be sustained.
    That is the conclusion of a report by research firm DisplaySearch which suggests that sales of HDTVs will peak in the next two or three years.
    It goes on to say that sales will then fall unless manufacturers can add compelling features that consumers are willing to pay for.
    Calvin Hsieh, the director of research at DisplaySearch, said internet connectivity, full 1080p resolution, PVR capabilities and upgraded HDMI port specifications need to become standard fare by next year.
    “Our research shows that the growth of the market will peak between 2009 and 2011,” he said.
    “Thereafter, growth will be limited without the development of new, enhanced features for TVs.”
    Less than half the digital TVs sold in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East with screen sizes larger than 40 inches have 1080p resolution – Japan has the highest penetration, at 90 per cent.
    Mr Hsieh said that while internet access is beginning to show up in sets from Panasonic, Sharp, and Sony, among others, once network connections are integrated right into a chip instead of requiring an ungainly add-on box, more applications will emerge that take advantage of the connectivity.

  • Number of LCD TVs being returned rises as viewers demand better quality for HDTV


    The refund rate on LCD TVs has increased to 25-30 per cent in North America despite a drop in prices by branded TV retailers.
    Many vendors reduced prices for 32-inch and 40-inch LCD TVs in May in an attempt to boost sales.
    However, the move has led to a rise in the number of products being returned as viewer expectations about the quality of high-definition images rises.
    The introduction of HD TV broadcasts in North America has made it much easier to compare the resolution of LCD TVs, according to a report in DigiTimes.
    It quotes industry sources who attribute the high refund rate for LCD to consumer dissatisfaction with low-priced products that did not meet their original expectations in terms of picture quality.

  • Savor the carnival atmosphere of Cirque Du Sole as Blu-ray brings the excitement of the big top into your living room

    Sony Pictures has announced it is bringing one of the world famous Cirque Du Soleil’s performances to Blu-ray later this year.
    “Cirque Du Soleil: Corteo”, by the celebrated troupe that has thrilled audiences on five continents, is due to be released on September 2nd.
    Sony said disk would capture all the magic of the performance in stunning high definition. No specs or special features have been announced at this time.
    The move is the latest digital venture by the circus, which has been seen by close to 80 million spectators in over 200 cities.
    Last month, the award winning Cirque announced it was extending its reach through mobile in partnership with YuuZoo, the fast growing new global mobile content, media and advertising company.
    Cirque du Soleil fans around the world are able to download show video excerpts, graphics and wallpapers directly onto their mobile devices through a new service offered through YuuZoo.
    Ron Creevey, president of YuuZoo, said the link-up was intended to expand beyond traditional mobile offerings by providing our customers with a broad selection of popular, unique subjects.
    “That’s one reason we’re very proud to be associated with such an innovative, creative world brand as Cirque du Soleil,” he said.

  • Free high definition content is the future as viewers grow accustomed to the new "normal" television


    The head of the UK’s Freesat digital service believes viewers will begin to resent paying for HDTV as increasing numbers regard it as the new “standard”.
    Emma Scott, managing director of Freesat, which launched in May, said there were already over 10m HD ready TV sets in UK homes.
    But at the time of Freesat’s launch only around 5 per cent of those HD ready homes were actually watching television programmes in high definition – and by subscription.
    Addressing the Broadcast Digital Channels Conference 2008 earlier this month, she said consumers and retailers wanted HD content– but it was the broadcasters that had taken a while to catch up.
    “Free HD is a long term opportunity for broadcasters and for Freesat,” she said. “HD is not a gimmick, it’s a new standard for television and one which every broadcaster I’ve met would love to deliver its content in.
    “I do not believe that HD will remain a long term income driver for pay platform operators – consumers will resent paying for something they see as the ‘new normal’ television if it isn’t premium sport and movies, which they already ‘expect’ to pay for.”
    Freesat offers subscription-free high definition channels and services once viewers have made a one-off payment for equipment.
    It expects to have up to 200 channels by the end of this year, including two high definition services – BBC HD and ITV HD – both available for free.
    Scott said that only with the launch of Freesat, a joint venture between the BBC and ITV, was HDTV really free for anyone who wanted it.
    She pointed to the rise in popularity of HD in the US, saying that the 35 per cent of homes now watching in HD were increasingly loyal to the networks they watched – and sought out HD programming, even if they wouldn’t normally watch the genre.
    “And with 1m Sony Playstation3s and an increasing number of Blu-ray players sold – both of which allow you to watch HD content via an HD ready TV – there are an increasing number of homes who will never want to switch back to just normal, ‘standard’ definition content.”
    Citing other popular examples where consumers get free access to products and services – such as Gmail, YouTube and Skype – she said Freesat hoped to be as successful in broadcasting.
    “So, in a world where there is widespread availability of digital technology, consumers increasingly expect their media for free,” she said.
    “But just being free isn’t enough for Freesat. Freesat will be the best of free, and is only going to get bigger and better.”

  • DirectTV says high definition content is helping attract new subscribers

    The US’s leading provider of HDTV has credited its 95 channels of HD content as one of the main reason for increasing subscribers even as the economy falters.
    Paul Guyardo, DirecTV’s chief marketing officer, said the company had not been greatly affected by the US economic slowdown.
    DirecTV added 275,000 subscribers in the first quarter, compared to just 35,000 for rival Dish Network.
    He attributed the satcaster’s market-leading HD offering as a major factor in the increase.
    “I don’t want to say that we are recession-proof, but I will say that we have not been dramatically affected by the recession,” Guyardo told Advertising Age.
    “Right now is a time when people don’t necessarily have those discretionary dollars to go out to entertainment outside of the house.
    “And so now more than ever, they’re turning to their television as a source of entertainment. And at the end of the day, DirecTV is an exceptional value.”
    Guyardo said that DirecTV launched an aggressive marketing campaign last year to promote its expanded HD lineup, at a time when many consumers were starting to tighten their belts.
    The satcaster expanded its high-def channel total from nine to more than 70 last Autumn.
    “All of our awareness studies would suggest that people clearly do understand that DirecTV is the undisputed leader in HD,” he said.
    Despite adding only a small number of new high-def channels this year DirecTV is currently the leading US provider of high definition TV programming.
    With a new satellite due to come on-stream, it is unlikely to lose the top spot in the near future and is expected to expand its current offering of 96 national HD channels.
    Dish Network lies in second place, with approximately 80 channels, while the cable operators Comcast, Cablevision and Time Warner offer 40-60 high-def channels in some markets.
    In other markets, this figure drops to less than 30 HD channels.
    Verizon currently has fewer than 40 HD channels but says it will up this to150 by the end of 2008.
    AT&T’s U-Verse TV service also offers around 40 HD channels and hasn’t announced any expansion plans.
    Guyardo said that DirecTV was well positioned to attract future HD subscribers.
    “People are still investing a ton of money in big, flat-screen TVs – HDTVs,” he said.
    “The growth has definitely levelled off, but the growth is still there. And I think they want a quality picture on their 50-inch Plasma.”

  • No mention of Olympic factor as US market for flat-panel HDTVs remains strong despite economic down-turn

    Sales of LCD and plasma TVs showed a 53 per cent year-on-year increase in the US for the first quarter of 2008, with more than 7.5 million units sold.
    This represents a 7 per cent increase over industry projections for the period.
    While analysts in Japan have attributed a 35 per cent increase in flat-panel TV sales during the first half of June to the upcoming Beijing Olympics, industry executives in the US are being more cagey.
    But what those attending the DisplaySearch TV Supply Chain Conference in San Diego did agree on was that despite the state of the US economy, the North America TV market remains robust – so far.
    Paul Gagnon director of North American TV research at DisplaySearch, said the data also highlighted consumer preference for smaller LCD and plasma TVs.
    “Smaller TV sizes are doing better than larger sizes, while the larger sizes seem to be under pressure from weakened consumer spending,” he said.
    “For example, global shipments of 32” TVs exceeded our forecasts by 10 per cent, while all screen size categories above 40” fell short of expectations by 3 per cent or more.”
    The summer holiday season is expected to present a major challenge for US retailers if the present economic trend continues, according to a majority of conference attendees.
    That could translate into better deals for consumers, and those deals could remain even if the economy recovers over the next few years because panel manufacturers are adding more TV assembly lines.

  • T-Mobile Appoints New Chief Marketing Officer

    Denny Marie Post, the senior VP-global food and beverage at Starbucks is to move to T-Mobile as the mobile operator’s chief marketing officer (CMO).
    On making the announcement, Robert Dotson, president-CEO of T-Mobile USA, said in a statement: “Denny has deep and varied experience as a marketing leader in some of the most competitive retail environments in America.
    “We’re delighted she brings her extensive talents to T-Mobile to further drive our mission of enriching personal relationships.”
    According to tracking data from TNS Media Intelligence, T-Mobile spent US$607 million in advertising last year.
    Prior to working at Starbucks, Ms. Post has served as the Chief Concept Officer at fast-food chain, Burger King since April 2004.
    From 1995 to March 2004, Ms. Post served in various positions for Yum! Brands, including Chief Innovation Officer at KFC, Chief Marketing Officer for KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut in Canada and VP Concept Innovation for KFC.
    The previous CMO, Michael Butler left at the beginning of the year for HomeAway, which operates the a network of vacation rental websites. Robert Dotson has been acting CMO since then.
    Earlier T-Mobile revealed its plans for the iPhone 3G in Europe with the announcement that Apple’s new handset will go on sale in Germany from as low as EUR1.
    The company said the 8 gigabyte version will be priced from EUR1 to EUR169.95, depending on the customer’s rate plan.
    The 16 gigabyte version will be priced from EUR19.95 to EUR249.95.
    T-Mobile will sell Apple’s device exclusively and customers are required to sign a two-year contract when buying the iPhone.
    The 3G iPhone will go on sale in Germany from July 11. T-Mobile will also start selling the new handset in Austria and the Netherlands the same day.
    The company will sell the phones in Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia later this year.

  • Mercedes provides mobile home for the iPhone

    The popularity of the Apple iPhone in Germany – over 100,000 people have bought iPhones there since its launch in November 2007 – has prompted Mercedes-Benz to offer what it claims is an industry first.
    The luxury car-maker has unveiled a new cradle specifically for the device which boosts reception and moves controls and display onto the steering wheel and dashboard.
    A company report said the move was an acknowledgement by Mercedes of Apple’s current dominance in the mobile arena.
    It said the cradle offered owners the means to seamlessly integrate the device’s music and telephone functions into their vehicles’ architecture.
    The cradle is available now for the Mercedes-Benz C-, E-, CLK-, CLS-, S-, CL-, SL-, M- and R-Class – as well as the in the future for the forthcoming GLK-Class).
    Available for € 249 – including VAT – the cradle is installed in the centre console, making it easy for both the driver and the passenger to reach out for the device.
    The iPhone’s media player and phone functions can be controlled with the help of the multifunction steering wheel controls, so you never really have to take your hands off the steering wheel to control the device.
    The vehicle’s display indicates the phone status, music functions and more.
    Because the device automatically connects to the vehicle aerial when inserted into the cradle it actually boosts the iPhone’s signal.
    What’s more, the iPhone is also constantly recharged when placed in its cradle.
    For non-iPhone owners, the company says future cradles for other mobile phones are on their way.

  • Samsung Instinct goes on sale 21 days before iPhone 3G

    The Samsung Instinct, touted as a worthy rival to the iPhone, has gone on sale in the US at a reduced price.
    Wireless phone network Sprint is offering the touchscreen handset for USD$129.99.
    The drop in price from the expected USD$ 199.99 is a move clearly intended to fuel rivalry with the new iPhone before it comes on the market next month.
    Sprint’s an unlimited data plan (at $69.99 per month) and two year contract agreement are similar to AT&T’s iPhone options.
    A worthy and elegant rival to the Apple handset, the Instinct measures 117 x 56 x 12.7mm and weighs 127 grams.
    It features GPS, EV-DO connectivity for high speed data transfers and a 3.1 inch TFT touchscreen display with 240 x 400 pixels.
    There’s a full HTML browser, Sprint Email, Sprint TV, Sprint Music Store, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, Microsoft’s Live Search, speaker-independent voice dialing, a 2 Megapixel camera with video, and expandable memory (up to 8GB).
    The handset is MMS-capable and its 1000 mAh battery can provide up to 5.75 hours of talk-time.
    The Instinct can be bought online, from Sprint’s official website or in all of the carrier’s US stores.