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RENTAL ROUNDUP

VSDA to Conduct LOS ANGELES -- The Video Software Dealers Association here will conduct a detailed consumer research study on video rental and sell-though habits as a first step toward an industry marketing campaign, said Jeffrey Eves, president of the VSDA.The VSDA has retained Yankelovich Partners, Norwalk, Conn., to conduct the study. The research was approved by the VSDA's board of directors when

VSDA to Conduct

LOS ANGELES -- The Video Software Dealers Association here will conduct a detailed consumer research study on video rental and sell-though habits as a first step toward an industry marketing campaign, said Jeffrey Eves, president of the VSDA.

The VSDA has retained Yankelovich Partners, Norwalk, Conn., to conduct the study. The research was approved by the VSDA's board of directors when it met last month in Chicago.

"The purpose of this consumer research study is to provide a foundation for the development of an advertising strategy and communications program for the home video rental and sell-through market," Eves said.

The goal of the resulting marketing, advertising, promotional and public relations campaign will be to drive traffic into video retailers.

The national survey will sample VCR, direct broadcast satellite and pay-per-view users. Goals include providing insight into active and inactive video consumers, determining motivating factors in rentals and purchases, understanding why consumers rent less frequently and identifying other leisure time activities that affect video rentals and sales.

In other news from the October board meeting, Eves reported that PPV windows on top titles have grown by 11 days over the last year, when the VSDA became active in this issue.

Spanish Subtitles

Ready for 'Con Air'

BURBANK, Calif. -- A Spanish subtitled version of the movie "Con Air" from Buena Vista Home Entertainment here will be available on the title's Dec. 9 street date. Prebook for the $100 million movie is Nov. 18. It will have a 45-day pay-per-view window.

'Spawn' Release

Set by New Line

LOS ANGELES -- New Line Home Video here will release the $55 million box office hit, "Spawn," Dec. 23 in both a PG-13 version and an R-rated director's cut version that includes a featurette titled, "The Making of Spawn." The two versions will have distinctive packaging. Prebook date is Dec. 2.

"Spawn" will be supported by a 45-day pay-per-view window. It is a live-action science fiction thriller based on a comic book series. Also on Dec. 23, New Line will release the romantic comedy, "For Roseanna."

Top 10 Supermarket Video Rental Titles

Title (Weeks Out) Studio Retail Last Week

1Liar Liar (3) Universal $22.98 1

2Volcano (3 ) Fox $103.91 2

3Anaconda (1) Columbia $107.11 New

4The Saint (4) Paramoun $103.91 3

5The Devil's Own (9) Columbia $105.51 4

6Dante's Peak (8) Universal $103.91 5

7Murder at 1600 (10) Warner $103.91 7

8Sleeping Beauty (4) Disney $26.99 8

9Jungle to Jungle (11) Disney $22.99 10

10Father's Day (5) Warner $103.91 6

The chart at right, tailored for the supermarket video market, is based on information taken from more than 1,000 supermarket rental locations serviced by Ingram Entertainment, La Vergne, Tenn.