by Paul Costello
Here's something useful to anyone who shows up at the occasional pub quiz: the first movie to be released on DVD was... Twister, starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton. Although released in 1996, this was the film that was selected as the first to be presented on the new digital format thanks to its use of visual effects and sound design (both of which were Oscar-nominated), which were deemed to be the right showcase for this new step forward in home entertainment technology when it launched in 1998.
That's right, folks. DVD is 15 years old this year.
Here's something useful to anyone who shows up at the occasional pub quiz: the first movie to be released on DVD was... Twister, starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton. Although released in 1996, this was the film that was selected as the first to be presented on the new digital format thanks to its use of visual effects and sound design (both of which were Oscar-nominated), which were deemed to be the right showcase for this new step forward in home entertainment technology when it launched in 1998.
That's right, folks. DVD is 15 years old this year.
And to celebrate this fact, the British Video Association have teamed up with the Entertainment Retailers Association to survey UK retailers like HMV, Amazon, Sainsbury's, Tesco and The Hut to find out what will likely be the most popular DVD and Blu-ray purchases this Christmas.
As you can expect, a significant portion of items purchased every Christmas are movies and TV box sets, because who doesn't love a good movie or TV boxset (particularly those of us here at I'mWithGeek Towers)? In fact, December ultimately accounts for over 1 in 5 of the full year's disc sales. Yup, just one month is responsible for the over a fifth of revenue from DVD and Blu-ray. That's a lot of festive cheer. “People value the quality and tangibility of the physical product," said Kim Bayley, Director General of Entertainment Retailers Association. "There are a fantastic variety of titles on offer to shoppers this Christmas."
As you can expect, a significant portion of items purchased every Christmas are movies and TV box sets, because who doesn't love a good movie or TV boxset (particularly those of us here at I'mWithGeek Towers)? In fact, December ultimately accounts for over 1 in 5 of the full year's disc sales. Yup, just one month is responsible for the over a fifth of revenue from DVD and Blu-ray. That's a lot of festive cheer. “People value the quality and tangibility of the physical product," said Kim Bayley, Director General of Entertainment Retailers Association. "There are a fantastic variety of titles on offer to shoppers this Christmas."
In the realm of movies, this year's top six predicted Christmas best sellers covers both live-action and animation, and taking in minions, aliens, monsters, mutants, cavemen and a Partridge in a hostage crisis. Here's the list:
1) Despicable Me 2
2) Man of Steel
3) Monsters University
4) The Wolverine
5) The Croods
6) Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa
(Source: Survey of ERA Members)
Nice to see at least one British film in there, even if it just misses out on the top five spots.
Talking about these festive purchases, Lavinia Carey, Director General of the British Video Association, said, “This Christmas, millions of people will be seeking out those must-have purchases to add to their own collection or to give to their family and friends as gifts. Curling up on the sofa to watch a Blu-ray Disc or DVD is a Christmas institution for many families - a wonderful shared experience that brings people together." Yeah, that sounds about right for me and mine.
1) Despicable Me 2
2) Man of Steel
3) Monsters University
4) The Wolverine
5) The Croods
6) Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa
(Source: Survey of ERA Members)
Nice to see at least one British film in there, even if it just misses out on the top five spots.
Talking about these festive purchases, Lavinia Carey, Director General of the British Video Association, said, “This Christmas, millions of people will be seeking out those must-have purchases to add to their own collection or to give to their family and friends as gifts. Curling up on the sofa to watch a Blu-ray Disc or DVD is a Christmas institution for many families - a wonderful shared experience that brings people together." Yeah, that sounds about right for me and mine.
Further to the filmic fare, TV gets an interesting list of its own. Rudy Osorio, Head of Video at HMV, said, “2013 has been a vintage year for TV - from quality home-grown shows like Downton Abbey to popular US imports like Breaking Bad, so there really is something for everyone.” Looks like he's right on that point. Predicted Top Six for television purchases this year look like this:
1) Breaking Bad - The Final Season
2) Mrs Brown’s Boys Live Tour: Mrs Brown Rides Again
3) Downtown Abbey - Season 4
4) Miranda - Season 3
5) Micky Flanagan Live - Back in the Game
6) The Big Bang Theory - The Complete Sixth Season
(Source: Survey of ERA Members)
Now that's diversity. Not often you get a meth-cooking school teacher hanging with the likes of a wealthy period family and a gaggle of painfully nerdy nerds.
So, that's what the BVA expects will be filling stockings and resting underneath trees for this Christmas. No matter what you get, though, so long as you enjoy it with the right people.
Merry Christmas, gift givers!
1) Breaking Bad - The Final Season
2) Mrs Brown’s Boys Live Tour: Mrs Brown Rides Again
3) Downtown Abbey - Season 4
4) Miranda - Season 3
5) Micky Flanagan Live - Back in the Game
6) The Big Bang Theory - The Complete Sixth Season
(Source: Survey of ERA Members)
Now that's diversity. Not often you get a meth-cooking school teacher hanging with the likes of a wealthy period family and a gaggle of painfully nerdy nerds.
So, that's what the BVA expects will be filling stockings and resting underneath trees for this Christmas. No matter what you get, though, so long as you enjoy it with the right people.
Merry Christmas, gift givers!
RSS Feed
