3D Content Vital to Sales of 3D Equipment – The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and the Entertainment and Technology Center of USC have done a new consumer survey fielding 1914 online U.S. adults. It showed that though public interest in 3D technology continues to grow, sales of 3D equipment are not going to take off until – guess what? – there is 3D content to watch on it! What a revelation! The study showed that when given the choice, consumers preferred 3D over 2D. More than 40% who saw a 3D movie in the last year say they would prefer to watch movies and TV shows in 3D vs. 2D across all content types, if available. Roughly 27% did see a 3D movie or event last year, with half of them seeing more than one. 85% were satisfied with their 3D experience, and 81% were satisfied with both the overall experience and the quality of the 3D images and effects. A spokesman said “It’s no surprise, given the choice, consumers want a high-definition 3D experience in their home.” Panasonic claims it sold out all its new 3D TVs in the U.S. during the first week they were available, so either some folks must think a 3D set will automatically turn all standard TV reception and DVDs into 3D or there’s an odd twist of logic going on here. A Tokyo-based analyst says that “Samsung, Panasonic and other top TV makers will probably sell about one million 3D sets each in the coming year, mainly to people who like movies or new products and high-end users.”
Viacom, Google and YouTube Strife – American media conglomerate Viacom has had a copyright lawsuit against YouTube and Google (who bought YouTube in 2006) for three years now. Viacom has made new charges that YouTube’s founders turned a blind eye when users uploaded copyrighted clips so they could amass a large audience and sell their company quickly. Google fired back that Viacom was continuously and secretly uploading clips from their TV shows and movies to YouTube for promotional purposes, even as they were complaining about copyright violations. Google said Viacom hired outside marketing agents and used email addresses not traceable to Viacom plus uploading videos from places such as Kinko’s rather than from their company computers. A professor of law summed it up: “They are both tearing each other up and both are scoring points.” It is common knowledge that YouTube has a lax approach to copyright. Most other companies are no longer fighting with them in their struggle to build a large database of full-length TV shows and movies – though they face rising competition from sites like Hulu.
Universal to Test Lowering New CD Prices – In a move designed to see if it will attract back consumers who have cut back on their buying of CDs in recent years, Universal Music Group – the world’s largest music company – plans to reduce their labels’ prices on some titles to $10 or less starting in a few months and extending thru most of 2010. Major retailers such as Wal-Mart and Best Buy will be involved. Deluxe versions of albums, with extra songs or features, will continue to sell at higher prices. Some in the industry doubt that $10 CDs will drive enough sales to offset the smaller profit margins on each unit sold. CD sales have dropped by more than half since 2000 according to Nielsen SoundScan. The $10 CDs will bring their price closer to the average rate for downloads of albums at iTunes or from Amazon.
