Zeppelin, Shakira DVDs get high-def treatment
(Reuters, Tuesday September 4, 6:49 AM)
NEW YORK (Billboard) - Paramount Home Studios' announcement in August that it was dropping support of Blu-ray and exclusively siding with HD DVD is further evidence that the next-generation high-definition format war won't end anytime soon.
In this developing business area, where content is king -- and ultimately drives consumer adoption -- the news was huge. Now, two of the top eight film studios exclusively support HD DVD, while four still sit exclusively with Blu-ray. In total, six of the top eight support Blu-ray, while HD DVD is supported by four of the top eight.
Ultimately the move means the high-definition consumer has more to contemplate in an inchoate field that's already perplexing. ADVERTISEMENT
"There's a lot of consumer confusion about high-def," said George Feltenstein, Warner Home Video senior vice president of theatrical catalog marketing. "They're confused by the competing formats, and that's one thing we find disconcerting."
As the format war continues, studios and labels are grappling with the challenges of bringing to market high-profile, high-definition music titles. "Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds: Live at Radio City" on Blu-ray is being released Sept. 4. Upcoming high-def titles from Queen, Tenacious D, David Gilmour are hitting stores this fall, as are titles from Led Zeppelin and Shakira, which have the potential to appeal to new and broader audiences.
Warner Home Video will release Led Zeppelin's "The Song Remains the Same" on Blu-ray and HD DVD Nov. 20 for the first time, with all 14 songs from the original 1976 concert film. Expectations for the title, which includes never-before-released performance footage of "Over the Hills and Far Away" and "Celebration Day," are high.
"The traditional DVD sold very well, and by today's standards it looks and sounds pretty awful. So we can make, with the new version, quite an impact," Feltenstein said.
With Led Zeppelin, there's an opportunity to seize the attention of a demographic that doesn't have many titles aimed at them. "There's not a lot of product for anyone over the age of 25. It's very youth-oriented." Zeppelin crosses a wide range of demo groups "including kids today," Feltenstein said.
Reaching multiple, distinct demographics is also a goal and challenge for Epic in the run-up to the Nov. 12 release of Shakira's "Live in Miami -- The Oral Fixation Tour."
"This is different (from) putting out a DVD when you're targeting a fan base with a marketing message. (With Blu-ray) it's a multidimensional message," Epic senior VP of marketing Lee Stimmel said. "You're targeting that artist's fans and you're targeting the high-end early adopters who've bought into this technology, and when it comes to Blu-ray, you have the install base of the (PlayStation 3), which is a whole different demographic."
The Shakira Blu-ray DVD will get a national splash the night before its release date with screenings at theaters in the high-def format. The price of the Blu-ray release will be built into the ticket price for the screening, and fans will be able to take home a copy that night.
Source:
http://au.launch.yahoo.com/070903/11/1dr58.html
if anyone knows anything can u please tell me thanks. or if it's just another rumor ... thanks
Shakira
Alejandro Sanz
Timbiriche
Julieta Venegas
omg how can u not know who shakira is... lol... so cute ... and see she should have been promoting Las De La Intuicion lol jk...