UMD Movies Go Betamax

A year after their release, it seems UMD Movies are on their way out. Reports are coming in that Wal-Mart will be discontinuing the sale of UMD Movies due to a large drop in sales while other retailers will be cutting down their UMD Movie shelfspace dramatically. Studios in Hollywood are also thinking of dropping the format. There are some pretty nasty quotes going out there right now by the higher-ups in Hollywood.

“It’s awful. Sales are near zilch. It’s another Sony bomb — like Blu-ray.” ~Anonymous Executives (Universal Studios)
“We continue to evaluate the PSP platform for each title, and if it makes sense for business reasons and the target audience, we will release them.Our focus right now is much more aimed at HD (high-definition) at the moment, though.” ~Brenda Ciccone (Paramount Pictures)
“We are on hiatus with UMD,” he said. “Releasing titles on UMD is the exception rather than the rule. No one’s even breaking even on them.” ~Anonymous Executive (Paramount Pictures)

Sony Computer Entertainment representatives will be meeting with the major studios to see if they can get the UMD market up again. However, they do seem to have the right idea of the problems. Benjamin Feingold, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment President, says, “I think a lot of people are ripping content and sticking it onto the device rather than purchasing.” I think you all know what he means.
A year after their release, it seems UMD Movies are on their way out. Reports are coming in that Wal-Mart will be discontinuing the sale of UMD Movies due to a large drop in sales while other retailers will be cutting down their UMD Movie shelfspace dramatically. Studios in Hollywood are also thinking of dropping the format. There are some pretty nasty quotes going out there right now by the higher-ups in Hollywood.

“It’s awful. Sales are near zilch. It’s another Sony bomb — like Blu-ray.” ~Anonymous Executives (Universal Studios)
“We continue to evaluate the PSP platform for each title, and if it makes sense for business reasons and the target audience, we will release them.Our focus right now is much more aimed at HD (high-definition) at the moment, though.” ~Brenda Ciccone (Paramount Pictures)
“We are on hiatus with UMD,” he said. “Releasing titles on UMD is the exception rather than the rule. No one’s even breaking even on them.” ~Anonymous Executive (Paramount Pictures)

Sony Computer Entertainment representatives will be meeting with the major studios to see if they can get the UMD market up again. However, they do seem to have the right idea of the problems. Benjamin Feingold, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment President, says, “I think a lot of people are ripping content and sticking it onto the device rather than purchasing.” I think you all know what he means.

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