GAMES, DVD'S RESPONSIBLE FOR BOX-OFFICE COLLAPSE, SAY EXPERTS
Monday, August 15 2005
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Observing that "ticket buyers are avoiding the box office like stale Jujubes," the Chicago Sun-Times observed Sunday that competition from home entertainment may be the primary cause of this year's slump. ("This is definitely the most pontificated summer ever," Universal Pictures vice Chairman Marc Shmuger told today's Los Angeles Times.) The Sun-Times noted that video game sales alone are now rivaling the take of many movies, pointing out that "Halo 2" took in $100 million in sales its first day out and that Netflix, the online video-rental service, saw its subscriber list expand to 3.2 million, up 54 percent from a year ago. "About 70 million people in the United States have DVD players. That gives people a greater flexibility than they have had," Andy Wing, president and CEO of Nielsen Entertainment, told the Sun Times "There is no sense of urgency to see a movie in the theater anymore." Moreover, moviegoers interviewed by the newspaper indicated that as people invest in sophisticated sound systems and high-definition monitors, the home-theater experience is becoming more enjoyable than anything the multiplex can offer. "I find that I can just be more comfortable at home," said one. "There's the problem of rudeness in the theater," said another, who complained about "people who use cell phones, people who ... talk during the movie, even someone who laughs at inappropriate times during the movie. Where are the ushers?"
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