Audio Video News

As noted <A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/shownews.cgi?1131">last week</A>, since September 11 video rentals have mushroomed, as consumers have opted for the security of their homes instead of heading for the theater. The effects of this recent trend are being felt directly by video rental company <A HREF="http://www.blockbuster.com/">Blockbuster</A> which recently announced financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2001.

Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation has withdrawn its offer to acquire direct broadcast satellite service <A HREF="http://www.directv.com">DirecTV</A>, according to reports over the weekend of October 27&ndash;28. News Corp. had been in contention for 18 months to buy DirecTV's parent company Hughes Electronics from its corporate owner General Motors.

<I>Anthony Hopkins, Julianne Moore, Giancarlo Giannini, Gary Oldman, Ray Liotta, Frankie Faison. Directed by Ridley Scott. Aspect ratio: 1.85:1 (anamorphic). Dolby Digital, DTS 5.1. Two discs. 131 minutes. 2001. MGM Home Entertainment 1002321. R. $29.98.</I>

Since September 11, live theater and concert attendance has fallen by as much as 75% in some parts of the country, while video rentals have mushroomed. The reason: people want to stay home.

In anticipation of demand for new digital services, <A HREF="http://www.aoltimewarner.com/about/companies/twcable.html">Time Warner Cable</A> says it has committed to purchase 625,000 Explorer digital set-tops from <A HREF="http://www.scientificatlanta.com">Scientific-Atlanta</A>. Under the agreements, announced last week by SA, TWC says it will purchase a mix of Explorer set-tops and other head-end equipment to meet projected consumer demand for digital cable and interactive TV services such as video on demand (VOD), subscription video on demand (SVOD), personal video recording (PVR), and high definition television (HDTV).