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Presents news briefs on the U.S. video and sound recording industries as of December 8, 2003. Selection of action movie filmmaker Michael Bay for the 2003 DVD Exclusive Pioneer Award by film producer Jerry Bruckheimer; Sales projection for the DVD version of the film "Bruce Almighty" during its first week in stores; Release of the exclusive five-song CD "Sweet Tracks" by Best Buy.

Presents news briefs related to the video recordings industry in the U.S. as of September 1, 2003. Launch of the film "Hulk" by Universal in DVD and VHS format; Number of video copies of the film "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" sold by New Line during its first day sale in August; Increase in the value of stocks of online rental retailer Netflix.

Offers news briefs on the video recordings industry in the U.S. as of March 10, 2003. Resignation of John Thrasher as Tower Records/Video vice president of video sales; Plan of Sony to launch the Blu-ray Disc digital videodisc (DVD) recorder in Japan in April 2003; Financial results posted by TiVo for the fourth quarter ended January 31, 2003; Date set for the release of the motion pictures 'Hot Chick' and '25th Hour' in videotape and DVD formats.

Presents an update on the U.S. video recordings industry as of December 23, 2002. Issues addressed by a jury in San Jose, California for their decision to acquit Russian software firm ElcomSoft from charges of violating provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act; Demand for the Sims Online videogame as of December 17, 2002; Increase in the revenue of Take-Two Interactive, developer of the videogame Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, as of the fourth quarter of 2002.

Presents news briefs related to the video industry in the U.S. as of December 16, 2002. Departure of video executive Noel Clayton from the company Wax Works/Video Works; Information on a possible team between the National Football League and the company Warner Brothers; Promotion of movie retailing services by the company Movielink.

Presents an update on the video industry as of December 9, 2002. Additions to the digital video disc version of the film 'Spider-Man'; Number of units sold by Nintendo of America on Game Boy Advance in a 10-day span; Sales growth posted by Best Buy Co. Inc. in the third quarter of 2002.

Presents news briefs related to the U.S. video recordings industry as of December 2, 2002. Films to be released by Artisan Home Entertainment; Information on the distribution contract signed by Buena Vista TV with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Performance of the Microsoft Xbox Live online game service.

Reports on the financial performance of Trans World Entertainment for the fourth-quarter of 2003. Statement issued by Trans World Chairman and CEO Robert Higgins; Implementation of point-of-sale systems in Wherehouse Entertainment stores; Increase in earnings per share.

Presents news briefs on the video recordings industry in the U.S. as of July 14, 2003. Details of a digital video disc revenue sharing deal proposed by Warner Home Video with video retailers; Release of the motion picture 'Anger Management' on video format on September 16, 2003; Information on the initial public offering of audio technology company DTS.

Presents news briefs on the video rental industry as of November 4, 2002. Decision of the Court of Appeals concerning the ordinance of San Antonio City, Texas which bars businesses that carry adult product from operating; Distribution of the digital video disc and VHS products of MGM in Canada; Use of RealNetworks and Microsoft's Windows Media by Movielink as its video downloading and digital-rights-management solutions.

Features the television program "DVDWeekend," hosted by Renee Sams and Mindy Burbano-Stearns, on KTLA-TV. Themes of the program; Focus of the program, according to David Sams, creator and producer of the show with his wife; Audience share of the television program.

Features Trans World Entertainment Corp., a music and video retailer and winner of the "Video Business" Best of Class, Sell-through Specialist award for 2003. Profits posted in November; Number of outlets owned by the Trans World in the fourth quarter following the acquisition of Wherehouse Music stores; Percentage of the retailer's sales represented by DVD. INSET: Why we chose Trans World.

Reports on the outlook of music and video superstore chain Hastings Entertainment on its financial and stock performance for the rest of its fiscal year 2003. Increase in the company's stock price as of December 8, 2003; Loss posted by the company in its third quarter ended October 31, 2003 as compared to its losses for the same period in 2002; Increase in its comparable store sales.

Reports on the sale of independent DVD supplier Anchor Bay Entertainment by parent Handleman Co. in 2003. Value of the sale; Factor which prompted the sale; Explanation given by Anchor Bay president David Vasile regarding the deal; Sales and earnings performance of Handleman for the fiscal year ended May 3, 2003.

Reports on the decision of Tower Records/Video to stop making financial disclosures to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in 2003. Speculation about the move; Significance of selling Tower Records, according to industry analysts; Discount promotions of the company for its music DVD; Stand of Tower's creditors on the issue.

Reports on the decision of Lions Gate Entertainment to merge with Artisan Entertainment, in an effort to boost its operation, which is expected to close in mid-December 2003. Possible impact of the deal, according to Lions Gate CEO Jon Feltheimer; Significance of the deal to Lions Gate's operations; Financial results posted by Lions Gate in 2003.

Reports on a DVD technology patent suit filed by Multi-Format Inc. against nine consumer electronics retailers in the U.S. in August 2003. Remarks from Alan Block, the lawyer representing Multi-Format, on the case; Legal principles behind the case; Views of analyst Richard Doherty on the credibility of the suit.

Reports on the effort of Warner Strategic Marketing (WSM) to carve a brand for itself as a DVD supplier. Popularity of music videos and sports programs; Agreement between WSM and ESPN to ply its X Games action sports brand to DVD; Ability of WSM to leverage DVD.

Reports on the plan of Best Buy to expand exclusive releases of DVD titles. Statement issued by Gary Arnold, senior vice-president of entertainment for Best Buy; Participation of Trans World Entertainment in pulling all Rolling Stones music and video titles off its shelves; Problem with music DVD.

Reports on the announcement made by Musicland officials that they have selected several other locations for outlets under the Sam Goody and Suncoast Motion Picture Company stores. Number of stores that would be under the name of Suncoast; Move of Musicland to relaunch the direct-to-consumer Web sites for its Sam Goody, Suncoast and Media Play stores;

Reports on the estimates given by the Consumer Electronics Association on the sales of portable DVD players in the U.S. in year 2003. Comparison of portable DVD players with notebook computers; Features of portable DVD players; Partnership of Mintek Digital with DVD suppliers to co-market its products.

Reports on the acquisition of Artisan Home Entertainment by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. on October 27, 2003. Advantage of the acquisition to Lions Gate's theatrical business; Background of the deal; Impact of the deal on the workforce of both companies.

Presents an update on issues and topics related to the video recordings industry in the U.S. as of November 3, 2003. Information on the DVD and VHS release of the film "Underworld" by Columbia on January 6; Implementation of the restrictions for video rental stores by the Video Software Dealers Association; Lawsuit filed by Tribune Entertainment against Marvel Enterprises for breach of contract relating to the development of the television series "Mutant X."

Reports on the use of musical accompaniments by Artisan Home Entertainment to promote its DVD titles "Dirty Dancing" and "Belly." Television campaigns included in the promotion; Plans of the company in relation to its initiative to blend music and video releases; Release dates of the videos.

Comments on the potential acquisition of Artisan Entertainment by Lions Gate Entertainment. Video market share of the proposed merger; Price of the merger deal; Amount of cash that Lions Gate plans to raise in common stock offering.

Presents forecasts on the sales of DVD recorders in the U.S. in the fourth quarter of 2003. Price of DVD recorders imported from China and Taiwan; Amount allocated by Panasonic for the advertising of its line of DVD recorders; Factors that will drive the growth in sales of DVD recorders.

Reports on the efforts of the entertainment industry in the U.S. to urge entertainment studios to adopt copyprotection technologies. Function of the digital watermarks inserted by Universal Pictures in most of its motion pictures; Reason for Universal's decision to use an audio watermark developed by Verance; Description of audio watermarks.

Reports on the number of companies that are vying to replicate the success of Buena Vista Home Entertainment's "Baby Einstein" video series in the U.S. Cost of the video series; Examples of baby-targeted video products on the market; Efforts made by Artisan in entering the infant market.

Reports on the decision of Musicland Stores to close several of its underperforming Sam Goody and Suncoast Motion Picture Company stores and to hire two veteran retail executives. Number of staffers who will lose their jobs due to the store closures; Move of Musicland to scout store locations and open outlets in 2004; Background of Lew Garrett and Danny Yarbrough, the executives hired by Musicland.

Reports on the DVD and video release party for the movie "The Matrix Reloaded" at Morton's restaurant in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California on October 8, 2003. Number of people who attended the event; Failure of Warner Home Video to include Macrovision copy protection in the Reloaded DVD disc; Highlights of the party.

Reports on the popularity of customized packaging of DVD as of October 2003. Cost of packaging; Statement issued by Sandy Weisenauer, senior vice-president of marketing at Anchor Bay Entertainment; Advantages of elaborate packaging.

Provides information on the DVD X Copy Platinum, a copyright software developed by 321 Studios. Features of the software; Applications of the software; Reward offered by the company for the conviction of anyone who uses the software illegally.

Presents several news related to video business as of September 2003. Revenue reported by Best Buy; Release of the DVD and VHS versions of the documentary film "Winged Migration"; Announcement of Universal Music Group on plans to cut the price of CD; Launching of the DVD and VHS versions of the film "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life."

Discusses issues in the DVD technology market as of September 2003. Forecast on the replacement of DVD technology by video on demand for home entertainment according to Forrester Research; Expectation on the growth of consumer spending; Comment from Josh Bernoff, author of the report "From Discs to Downloads," regarding the growth of the DVD market.

Relates the plans of Eric Weisman, CEO of Musicland Holding, for its merchandising stores. Career background; Estimated losses incurred by the company for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003; Career achievements of Weisman.

Focuses on the Entertainment Packaging Summit attended by officials from the retail and packaging industries in California in August 2003. Features of the event; Focus of the panel discussion; Details of the presentation.

Reports that two Multi-Format inventors in New Jersey who say they own a patent relating to the process of playing DVD have sued top retailers, as they seek to develop a licensing program for the patent. List of the retailers involved in the suit; Reason for the decision of the Video Software Dealers Association to retain an intellectual property law specialist to evaluate whether retailers are potentially liable because they sell and rent DVD.

Focuses on a study sponsored by Macrovision Corp., which indicated the amount that the home video industry could be losing in retail revenue because of a lack of comprehensive application of copy protection. Estimated range of retail revenue losses; Claims of Macrovision on its copy-protection technology; Cost of DVD recorders.

Reports on the effect of the blackout that happened on August 14, 2003 on video retailers in the U.S. and Canada. Reason that video stores were unable to reopen after the power was restored; Cities affected by the blackout; Lost revenue of Hometown Video store from the first evening blackout.

Provides information on the 2003 second-quarter profits posted by replication company Cinram International. Factors that caused the increase in second-quarter revenue of the company in the U.S.; Amount invested by the company in DVD manufacturing capital; Cinram clients that are interested in using the services of the Ivy Hill packaging.

Reports on the plans of Trans World Entertainment to expand its business as of August 2003. Companies included in the Musicland chain; Comparison of Trans World's second quarter loss in 2003 with that in 2002; Outlook for the second half of 2003.

Presents an update on the U.S. motion picture industry as of August 2003. Plan of eBay to expand its wholesale distribution business; Showing date of the motion picture "Legally Blonde 2."

Reports on the release of the Lilo & Stitch's Island of Adventure product, a DVD-based board game themed from the animated motion picture "Lilo & Stitch" franchise. Play mechanics for the board game; Decision of Mattel Inc. to acquire the DVD-based board game Scene It?

Deals with decision of the Blockbuster Video film acquisition arm DEJ Productions to distribute its product through a partnership with DEJ Direct. Distribution of DEJ titles, including "A Good Night to Die," starring Michael Rapaport, Robin Givens and Ralph Macchio; Video companies where DEJ distributed its product.

Offers tips from retail and supplier executives on how to recognize underserved niches in product and pricing and effectively merchandise to exploit them. Details on the plan of Blockbuster Video; Challenge for retailers going forward; Possible increase in sales of previously viewed DVD; Issues addressed at the Indie Label Luncheon on July 29, 2003.

Focuses on the annual pre-VSDA show junket of Artisan Home Entertainment. Information on the evening events for Artisan's Strategic Summit; Plans of Artisan to repromote its "T2 Extreme" DVD in November 2003.

Presents news briefs on the video recording industry in the U.S. as of July 28, 2003. Decision of Wellspring Media to drop video home system rental pricing; Launch of a Reward Zone program by Best Buy; Deal signed by Lions Gate to distribute the first six films produced by Doug Schwab's Breakaway Films.

Reports on the use of set-top boxes from Motorola Inc. by Charter Communications in an effort to compete with satellite television in the U.S. in July 2003. Features of the set-top boxes; Number of units deployed by Charter; Efforts done by other cable companies to rival Charter.

Reports on the acquisition of the DVD and CD manufacturing business of AOL Time Warner by Cinram International Inc. on July 18, 2003. Value of the acquisition; Terms of the agreement; Projection on the growth of the DVD business in 2006; Significance of the acquisition to AOL.

Provides information on a deal entered by specialty movie marketer Koch Lober Films with theatrical distributor CineCorp and Street Alien Pictures to distribute several films from Indian cinema on digital video disc and videotape formats in 2003. Details on the first releases under the deal, including the films 'The Hero' and 'Bhoot'; Distribution plans of Koch for the films.