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Wednesday, October 12, 2011

New Warner Home Video Policy for Select Film Releases

We have recently learned that Warner Home Video will no longer distribute theatrical releases to libraries or home video rental stores until 28 days after they release the movies for sale at retailers. This Warner Home Video policy applies to all public libraries and video rental outlets such as Redbox, Netflix, and Blockbuster.

In addition to being released 28 days after the retail version, Warner’s rental version DVDs and Blu-rays will not contain bonus features or extras. However, we understand that there will be a significant price reduction for these products, apparently amounting to an average $4 per DVD title and $8 per Blu-ray title (see cost breakdown below).

Warner Home Video has announced that it may seek to enforce its new policy by auditing its distribution partners’ sales. Additionally, Warner may require retailers, like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target, to limit the number of copies of a new release that may be sold to a single customer.

Please note that Warner’s new policy will only impact titles that have a theatrical release, perhaps amounting to about 12 titles per year. Non-theatrical Warner releases will not be affected by this policy.

Below are the first three Warner theatrical titles affected. Note that Warner’s rental versions will feature rental artwork.


If your library had any of these titles on order previously, Midwest Tape will modify the order and adjust the pricing accordingly. If you do not wish to receive rental versions of these titles, please contact Customer Service at 1.800.875.2785 to cancel your order.

While we recognize this is Warner Home Video’s policy, feel free to contact us at 1.800.875.2785 or info@midwesttapes.com with any questions or concerns regarding this matter. You may also contact Warner Home Video directly at 888.383.9483.


You can also read more at Home Media MagazineWarner Altering Distribution to Rental Channels?


Cost Breakdown

title
format
former retail street date
former retail SRP
former mwt library price
rental street date
rental SRP
new mwt library price
Crazy Stupid Love
DVD
1-Nov
28.99
21.99
29-Nov
22.99
17.99
Crazy Stupid Love
Blu-ray
1-Nov
35.99
26.99
29-Nov
24.99
18.99
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
DVD
11-Nov
28.99
21.99
9-Dec
22.99
17.99
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Blu-ray
11-Nov
35.99
26.99
9-Dec
24.99
18.99
Hangover Part 2
DVD
6-Dec
28.99
21.99
3-Jan
22.99
17.99
Hangover Part 2
Blu-ray
6-Dec
35.99
26.99
3-Jan
24.99
18.99

9 comments:

  1. I'm having trouble confirming that this is true. Do you have any proof that this is going to happen to libraries? Thanks. Email me at cholling@cityofmesquite.com.

    ReplyDelete
  2. We received a similar letter from Ingram, but they stated that the prices would be approximately $6 lower for rental DVD and $11 lower for rental Blu-ray. Why is there a discrepancy in the discounts?

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is an excellent question.

    Ingram is talking about the difference between rental retail pricing whereas we are discussing actual cost to the library. I've gone ahead and posted a cost breakdown from Warner in a chart above.

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Do you know if we can still purchase the retail version and just not have it available until the correct date? Our patrons like the bonus materials, so these are the versions we would like to have in the collection

    ReplyDelete
  5. Unfortunately, versions of titles with bonus features won't be available until sell through, roughly 6 months later.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What about the retail versions? May we purchase the retail versions and just not put them out until the correct date? Or do those not have bonus features either?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Regarding the retail versions, Warner may require retailers, like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target, to limit the number of copies of a new release that may be sold to a single customer.

    The retail versions will have bonus features.

    The Swiss Army Librarian blog has a good discussion of retail versions going on:
    http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2011/10/18/warner-video-restricting-dvd-sales-to-libraries/

    ReplyDelete
  8. The real question is WHY is Warner doing this?

    ReplyDelete
  9. It is true. We order from Baker & Taylor. The version of Crazy, Stupid, Love. that released on Nov. 1 (that I put in a cart weeks ago) now shows "No Library Sales." When you go to search for it now, this version no longer shows up. The only version available now is a Rental Ready version that releases Nov. 29th!

    ReplyDelete

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