Plan ahead for DVD submission to Blockbuster

Strategic planning is essential for any distribution plan.  Plan your Order Date/Street Date (official launch date of DVD) to incorporate the buying windows of the retailers.  Did you know that submissions for Blockbuster (brick and mortar stores, not online) have a lead time of 3-4 months?  Today I got a notice from Blockbuster's buyer stating that the submission TFS forms are due June 11th for Sept and October:

Period 09-2010 Dates: 08/30/2010 - 10/03/2010

Period 10-2010 Dates: 10/04/2010 - 10/31/2010

And remember, if you have set a street date prior to these windows and your product is in the marketplace, you CANNOT be considered for Blockbuster New Release.

So, when you sign with your distributing partner, be sure to ask when the windows are for Blockbuster and WalMart - these two retailers have the longest lead time for submissions.  Then agree upon a start date!

January Update - Home Video biz

Here's some interesting tidbits regarding the world of home entertainment (pulled from January issue of Home Media Magazine - always an interesting read!)

• Warner Bros negotiating a 28 day window for new releases before going to Redbox and Netflix.  Will provide a discount rate to these vendors for doing so.  Allows for the sell-through business to take off again, as stats show that 75% of just released DVDs sell in the first four weeks from street date.    Others studios to follow suit.

• However, mom-and-pop video stores will still be able to rent at street date per a First Sale Doctrine clause (no 28 day wait period).

• Hollywood Video (Movie Gallery) is filing Chapter 11 again closing (40%) of its 2,700 store chain. 200 Movie Gallery/Hollywood Video stores and 680 Game Crazy locations

• Blockbuster kiosks will number 9,000 in 2010 with the addition of 1,000 locations.

• Analysts downgrading Netflix stock and recommend selling shares!
• Blockbuster performing better with a 9% surge in stock purchases.

• Wii  and DSi to carry Netflix’s “watch instantly” streams to join Xbox and Playstation

I have a question - does anyone reading my blog ever use Redbox?  Do you like it?  Personally, I don't think it is convenient, having to go to the 7/11 two days in a row.  I stopped by today to take a look and there was nothing that I wanted to see -- even for a dollar, that was worth me driving in the rain to return the next day.  Please respond with your opinions...

Tracy