Blockbuster Set To Lay Off 65
ertainment here will lay off 65 corporate employees in an effort to cut costs, said Steve Becker, senior vice president of human resources. This comes shortly after word that Blockbuster will cut back unit orders for October titles by as much as one-third to some studios.
Blockbuster is lobbying studios heavily for shared-revenue purchasing arrangements, a move that could drastically change the video distribution business, industry sources said. The retailer first brought up the proposal during the Video Software Dealers Association Convention last July, and is having continuing discussions with the studios. All parties involved declined comment.
'Rough Riders' Hits That Hill Nov. 11
BURBANK, Calif. -- Warner Home Video here will release "Rough Riders" Veteran's Day, Nov. 11. The TNT cable network miniseries stars Tom Berenger as Teddy Roosevelt. Order date is Oct. 21.
Drawing to Back Cabin Fever Titles
GREENWICH, Conn. -- Cabin Fever Entertainment here will support its first-quarter rental releases with a "$100,000 Fever" promotion. The supplier will hold five $10,000 drawings and one for $50,000.
Retailers can enter by mailing in cards found in the rental titles "Strategic Command," "Stag," "The Undertaker's Wedding," "Steel Sharks" and "Hostile Intent." The movies street in January and February.
New 'Snow White' Has 'Alien' Date
NEW YORK -- PolyGram Video here will release "Snow White: A Tale of Terror" Nov. 25, backed by a 90-day pay-per-view window. Order date is Nov. 10.
Starring Sigourney Weaver, the title will be released coincidentally with her new theatrical movie, "Alien Resurrection." The "Snow White" title originally aired on the Showtime cable network in August.
"Snow White: A Tale of Terror" will also be supported by a "Watch & Win" contest for retailers and distributors. Shelf talkers will be available to highlight Weaver's starring role in "Alien Resurrection."
Top 10 Supermarket Video Rental Titles
Title (Weeks Out) Studio Retail Last Week
1The Saint (1) Paramount $103.91 New
2Jungle 2 Jungle (8) Disney $22.99 1
3Dante's Peak (5) MCA $103.91 2
4The Devil's Own (6) Columbia $105.51 3
5Murder at 1600 (7) Warner $103.91 4
6Donnie Brasco (9) Columbia $105.51 5
7McHale's Navy (2) MCA $103.91 7
8Father's Day (2) Warner $103.91 6
9Pooh's Grand Adventure (7) Disney $24.99 8
10Sleeping Beauty (1) Disney $26.99 New
The chart at right, 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.
