Universal Studios Releases Subject to 28-Day Window

We'd like to remind our customers that theatrical releases on DVD and Blu-ray from Universal Studios Home Entertainment are subject to a 28-day "window" for libraries. When these titles become available to the general public, they cannot be sold to libraries until 28 days later. This includes titles such as Les Miserables, which will be available to libraries on April 19. Our website, buyer's guides, and weekly newsletter will always reflect the date titles are available to libraries.

Here is the announcement, originally posted on November 22, 2012:

Effective with Universal Studios Home Entertainment new release (Theatrical and Made For Video) titles releasing on January 8, 2013, Universal Studios Home Entertainment will be moving all Libraries to a 28-day new release window. A distributor may not street a Universal Studios Home Entertainment title to library accounts during the 28-day window. For instance, a title that streets for sell-through on Tuesday, January 8th cannot be lent by libraries to their patrons before February, 5th, 2013. This 28-day window will not apply to TV and Catalog releases. All titles will continue to be distributed as the retail version.

Please contact your Midwest Tape sales representative if you have questions.

The Descendants to Street on March 13; Artist Date Changed to “Coming Soon"

Due to the Academy Awards, Fox has announced a quickly approaching street date for The Descendants, winner of Best Adapted Screenplay and starring nominee George Clooney. The film will now street March 13. If you’ve pre-ordered this title, it will still arrive by street date. Haven’t ordered yet? Click to view the DVD or Blu-ray and add it to your cart.

In other Oscar-related release date news, due to its Academy Award win for Best Picture, The Artist will now remain in theaters for a longer duration. As a result, its DVD and Blu-ray street dates have been changed to “coming soon.” As soon as we receive word on its new street date, we’ll update the product listings in our system and on our site.

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 Magazine: Warner 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

The Tempest Slated for December Street Date

After having its street date pushed back three times, Midwest Tape cancelled all orders for The Tempest starring Helen Mirren until a more firm street date was available from the studio. The title was recently re-announced with a street date of December 20, 2011 for the DVD (THV106588D). You can re-order the title at midwesttapes.com.

The Tempest is a modern retelling of William Shakespeare's final masterpiece. Exiled to a magical island, the sorceress Prospera conjures up a storm that shipwrecks her enemies and then unleashes her powers for revenge. The fantastical film was a 2011 Academy Award Nominee for Best Costume Design and grossed one million dollars at the box office.

If you have questions regarding this title, please contact customer service at 1.800.875.2785.

Street Dates Move Up for Eminem, Miley Cyrus, and Others

Sony, EMI, and Universal Music have bumped up the release dates for their titles originally slated for a June 22^nd release. These titles will now street on June 21^st.

Among the titles hitting the shelves on this date is Eminem’s follow up to last year’s Relapse—the highly anticipated Recovery (UMM394527C for Parental Advisory/UMM394510C for Edited). Demand for this title has been through the roof, so an early release date comes as good news to fans and libraries alike.

Eminem will share the spotlight on June 21^st with Miley Cyrus’s new album Can’t Be Tamed (UMM145446C). Critics claim that Miley displays a new maturity on this, her second full-length release, so eager listeners will surely be anxious to get their hands on this title.

Also scheduled for release on the 21^st are Macy Gray’s first album effort since 2007, The Sellout (UMM320093C), Ozzy Osbourne’s Scream (CMJ611326C), and The Roots’ oft-delayed How I Got Over (UMM094601C for Parental Advisory/UMM094632C for Edited).

If you have already received your copies of any of these releases, you can display them starting on Monday, June 21, 2010 instead of waiting until Tuesday.  Please post any questions you have here as comments, or call Customer Service at 1.800.875.2785.

New Moon Street Date Bumps Up, Available This Friday

Due to intense anticipation from diehard Twilight Saga fans, Atlantic Records has pushed the release date of the New Moon Motion Picture Soundtrack (WEM965692C) up to this coming Friday, October 16^th, 2009.  The album (which features such top artists as Death Cab for Cutie, The Killers, and Thom Yorke) was previously scheduled to hit shelves on October 20^th.  However, an increase in buzz, along with an early internet leak last weekend, triggered the bump in street date.

If you have already received your copies of the soundtrack, you can display them starting on Friday, October 16^th, 2009 instead of waiting until Tuesday.  Please post any questions you have as comments, or call Customer Service at 1.800.875.2785.