NEWS ROUNDUP 1995-04-17 (2)

Oscar Lifts 'Blue Sky' Orders

ge's Academy Award-winning performance in "Blue Sky" has greatly increased interest in the videotape, according to Orion Pictures here, creator of the movie.

The PG-13 rated movie earned under $3 million at the box office, but nearly $9 million in video orders, about 15% of which is from supermarkets. "This is unprecedented at Orion," said Herb Dorfman, president of home video. "I attribute video success of this film to all the awards that Jessica Lange received."

The movie, which also stars Tommy Lee Jones, streets on April 18. Lange's performance earned her an Oscar for Best Actress, as well as many other awards, including a Best Actress Golden Globe and Best Actress honors from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.

Company officials said the movie is ideal for supermarkets, calling it a woman's and couple's film.

MGM/UA to Release 'Speechless'

SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- MGM/UA Home Video here will release "Speechless" to the rental market on May 16. The movie, which stars Michael Keaton and Geena Davis, earned $20 million at the box office. Prebooking on April 26, it will also have a 54-day extended pay-per-view window and a 60-day no-fault defective program. Marketing support for the title will include a consumer sweepstakes and a national print and radio advertising campaign. Also from MGM/UA, "Getting Even With Dad" will be repriced for the sell-through market on May 9. With a suggested retail of $19.98, the title will be offered in clamshell packaging and a variety of merchandising units. The studio also will reprice "Blown Away" to $19.98 on June 27 and offer a $5 consumer rebate with the purchase of additional videos. "National Velvet" and the 1949 version of "Little Women" will join the MGM Family Entertainment line on July 11. Available in clamshell packaging, "National Velvet" will be priced at $19.98, while "Little Women" will be priced at $14.95.

New 'Real Wheels' Titles Set

NEW YORK -- KidVision here will release four more titles in its "Real Wheels" series on May 16. The videos will be offered either at a suggested retail of $10.95 for the tape alone or $12.95 for the tape with a die-cast miniature toy model. Order date is April 25. The four new titles are: "There Goes a Helicopter," "There Goes a Monster Truck," "There Goes a Motorcycle" and "Here Comes a Roller Coaster and Other Fun-Filled Rides."

Sony, Random House in Accord

NEW YORK -- Sony Wonder here has entered into an agreement to distribute the entire catalog of Random House Home Video. Titles in the catalog include videos based on the works of Stan and Jan Berenstain, Richard Scarry and Dr. Seuss, and videos from the HBO series "Happily Ever After" and "Sesame Street."

CBS to Release 'Artistry on Ice'

NEW YORK -- CBS Video here will release "Artistry on Ice" on May 2, timed for Mother's Day. The compilation of famous skaters' performances will be priced at $19.98. The order date was April 7. The program, initially shown last year, was re-broadcast on April 16, two weeks prior to the video release. CBS Video also has set a May 16 release for two new episodes each of "Gunsmoke" and "Rawhide." Suggested retail is $14.98 and order date is April 21. Meanwhile CBS/Fox Video will release two National Basketball League videos on May 2. "Hakeem the Dream" features Hakeem Olajuwon and "Shawn Kemp the Reignman" will feature the Seattle SuperSonics star. The videos will have a suggested retail of $19.98. Order date was April 7.

PPI, Fitness Expert Extend Deal

NEWARK, N.J. -- PPI Entertainment here and fitness expert Denise Austin have extended their working agreement for an additional three years. Three more of Austin's videos will be released on May 12: "TrimWalk Starters/Strolling Pace," "TrimWalk Moderate/Intermediate" and "Trim Walk Brisk/ Advanced." The 40-minute titles will retail at $9.98.