PRINCETON, N.J. -- The International Recording Media Association has launched the VHS Coalition, with the goal of promoting the growth and development of the VHS format into the next millennium.
f 32% over the same period in 1998," said Charles Van Horn, executive vice president of IRMA. "This is coming off a record year in 1998 with total VCR sales of 21.3 million units," he said.
"IRMA will put its proven promotional efforts behind the format in the coming year to increase industry awareness about its sheer size and impact on entertainment throughout the globe," he said. In addition, the group agreed to explore nonentertainment applications for the format.
Nearly $250 billion has been invested in VHS hardware and programming worldwide by consumers since the beginning of the format, according to IRMA's "Worldwide VHS Videotape Market Intelligence Report." In 1998, prerecorded VHS programming reached a record of more than 1.7 billion units worldwide.
ST. LOUIS -- Sight & Sound Distributors will ship a "Time for Summer Fun" promotional kit later this month to support the DVD release of "Titanic." It includes a Paramount wall clock, Paramount visors and "Titanic" merchandise including coasters, a T-shirt, magnets, whistle key tags, a flashlight and tumblers.
The kit also includes "In the Doghouse" activity sheets for children and balloons to decorate video departments. The kits are free with the purchase of the "Titanic" DVD, "In the Doghouse," "Payback" and "200 Cigarettes."
In other news, Sight & Sound has launched a new Web site for retailers: www.sightandsound-dist.com. The Web site will include marketing news and a flea market for bargains, as well as links to studio Web sites. In the future, the Web site will also enable retailers to place orders, check account balances and watch movie trailers.
ENCINO, Calif. -- The Video Software Dealers Association has announced its 1999 Retailer of the Year Award winners. In the Owner of an Independent or Small Chain Video Store category, there were two winners: Rick Veingard of The Video Connection, Pembroke, Fla., and Michael Clark of Movie Madness, Portland, Ore.
Ray Jewell of Movie Magic, Lindale, Texas, won in the Owner of a Midsized Video Store Chain category, and Vincent Insalaco of Family Video, Little Rock, Ark., won in the Owner of a Large Video Store Chain category. The Canadian Retailer of the Year was Marc Gienac of Family Video, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.