Ameritech Opens
BR> CHICAGO -- Ameritech Corp. here said it will be competing with video rental following the introduction of 18 new pay-per-view channels this month in the Chicago; Cleveland; Columbus, Ohio; and Detroit areas.
Pricing movies at $2.95, "the move means Ameritech will compete not only against incumbent cable-TV providers, but against video rental stores as well," read a press release from the company. The top two movies of a given week start every half-hour, while two other movies start every hour, said Geoff Potter, Ameritech spokesman.
Nintendo Plugs in
New Ad Campaign
REDMOND, Wash. -- Nintendo of America here has launched a new advertising campaign featuring the tagline, "Get N or Get Out," in time for the fourth quarter.
With a major cross promotion with Taco Bell, total ad spending by Nintendo will be 25% higher than last year, when the company introduced the Nintendo 64 game system. Nintendo plans to spend $90 million in the fourth quarter. The ads will highlight such titles as "Diddy Kong Racing," "GoldenEye 007" and "Turok: Dinosaur Hunter." Spending on "Diddy Kong Racing" alone will exceed $10 million.
December Titles
Get Big Windows
Several titles scheduled for release in December will have extended pay-per-view windows.
"How to Be a Player," from PolyGram Video, New York, will have a 45-day PPV window when it releases Dec. 16. Order date is Dec. 1 for single copies. The title will be supported by a music video for Junior Mafia's single, "Young Casanovas," from the soundtrack.
Dec. 16, Live Entertainment Co., Van Nuys, Calif., will release "Stranger In the House," with a 60-day PPV window, a six-month cable holdback, and a suggested retail of $59.98. Prebook date is Nov. 25.
Paramount Home Video, Hollywood, will support the Dec. 23 release of"'Til There Was You" with a 51-day PPV window. Order cut-off is Dec. 8. Another December rental title from Paramount is a Showtime movie being released on video for the first time, "Critical Choices." It will street Dec. 16, with a Dec. 1 order date.
Top 10 Supermarket Video Rental Titles
Title (Weeks Out) Studio Retail Last Week
1Batman & Robin (1) Warner $22.98 New
2Liar Liar (5) Universal $22.98 1
3Breakdown (2) Paramount $103.92 2
4Austin Powers (1) New Line $105.52 New
5Wild America (1) Warner $22.98 New
6Volcano (5) Fox $103.91 3
7Anaconda (3) Columbia $107.11 4
8The Saint (6) Paramount $103.91 5
9The Jungle Book (2) Disney $26.99 6
10Grosse Pointe
Blank (2) Hollywood $103.91 **
* re-release ** Not in top 10 last week
The chart on this page, tailored for the supermarket video market, is based on information taken from more than 1,000 supermarket rental locations serviced by Ingram Entertainment, La Vergne, Tenn.
