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Digital
Media FX News Archives
Wednesday
- October 10, 2001
- Sony Gives $124 Million to
Square
- Mummy Returns
Breaks DVD Opening Records
- Blockbuster Launches Massive
Shrek Promotions
- News Link of the Day
- Animated TV Union Agreement
 Sony
Gives $124 Million to Square
(by digitalmediafx.com) Sony has given Square $124 million
as an investment in the company's game making department, of which
Sony will receive shares in exchange, making it an 18% owner in
the company. The move further secures the loyalty of Square to
Sony (Playstation) even though Square isn't contractually bound
to not make games for other systems.
Square's Final
Fantasy X is expected on U.S. shores in January 2002 for Playstation
2. Meanwhile Sony is claiming that it will not lower the price
of the Playstation 2 this year, even with strong competition from
Nintendo's GameCube and Microsoft's Xbox.
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Mummy Returns
Breaks DVD Opening Records
(by digitalmediafx.com) Universal's The Mummy Returns
has registered the biggest first week in the history of DVD with
consumers purchasing over two million units of the record-breaking
initial shipments of 4.5 million DVDs.
The combined
DVD and VHS sales of The Mummy Returns have racked up more
consumer sales in the first week than any other title since the
release of Toy Story 2 with the DVD besting the biggest
DVD of all time: Gladiator. The Mummy Returns combined
initial week VHS and DVD sales are over 70% greater than the 1999
release of the original Mummy movie.
"This
is a fantastic launch to what will be the biggest fourth quarter
in the history of the video business," stated Craig Kornblau,
president, Universal Studios Home Video.
The Mummy
Returns DVD includes a sneak peek at next year's spinoff,
The Scorpion King.
The record
could be short-lived, however, depending on demand for the DVD
release of The Phantom Menace next week and Shrek
next month.
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Blockbuster
Launches Massive Shrek Promotions
(by digitalmediafx.com) Blockbuster has prepped several promotions
to tie in with the release of DreamWorks Shrek on November
2, 2001. The promotions include:
- For the
pre-sell, customers will get a free DVD or VHS copy of Shrek
when they buy a $25 10-week rental card from Oct. 2 - Nov. 1.
Customers can pick up their free copy on the release date of
Friday, Nov. 2. The 10-week rental cards are good for one rental
per week at a participating Blockbuster store for each of the
10 consecutive weeks following activation. Each card is activated
upon initial use and is valid at the store where the card is
activated.
- The chain
is offering three exclusive special-edition $5 Blockbuster GiftCards
featuring Shrek. Customers will get one (1) Shrek
$5 GiftCard free with the purchase of $50 in Blockbuster GiftCards
from Oct. 23 - Dec. 16, while supplies last.
- To promote
the release date, customers who buy Shrek on VHS or DVD
with a tub of popcorn and receive an instant $3 off the purchase,
through Nov. 20.
- In-store
promotion includes in-store retail merchandiser, POP -- terminal
toppers, shelf talkers and window decals -- plus in-store Blockbuster
TV and direct mail.
- Development
of local radio promotions and/or store events in the top 40
U.S. markets. Promotion details may vary.
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News Link
of the Day - Performers in Animated TV Reach Union Agreement
According to FOX News:
"The
Screen Actors Guild has reached a tentative three-year contract
for performers working in animated television.
Terms were
not released pending a two-step ratification process that begins
Thursday with members receiving details of the offer. SAG's national
board also must approve the agreement..."
Click
here for the full story.
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