According to an LA Times piece, Distribution Video Audio, the last known large distributor of VHS tapes, has shipped out its last batch of tapes, marking the end of an era.
VHS, and the players they are played on, VCRs, hit retail shelves in 1965 and allowed users to time-shift shows by recording them to video tape for playback whenever they chose. Earlier this year we reported the final demise of standalone VCRs although many companies still make combo DVD/VHS players or even Blu-ray/VHS players.
Ryan Kugler, the CEO of Distribution Video Audio, said that any leftover tapes would be given away.
“It’s dead, this is it, this is the last Christmas, without a doubt,” he added. “I was the last one buying VHS and the last one selling it, and I’m done.”
The last Hollywood movie to be released on VHS was A History of Violence which was released in 2006.
Result for: distributor
Richard Craig Lissaman of Calgary has become the first Canadian convicted under new movie pirating legislation for his decision to film the movie “Sweeney Todd” at a local movie theater last year.
Lissaman pleaded guilty on Friday and was sentenced to 12 months probation and a large fine of $1500 CAD.
The guilty party is now also banned from going to any movie theater as well as from owning video recording equipment (including a cell phone with the capability) while he is on probation.
Judge Skene said that Lissman’s crime was comparable to someone shoplifitng a cart of meat knowing that they will resell it for a profit.
“You can say he and his pals will watch the movie, but he has an item that is more supportive of taking something to be used to make a profit,” said the judge.
“It’s not a simple theft of an item for personal consumption.”
The motion picture industry was delighted by the ruling and admitted they spent six months investigating before having the authorities arrest Lissaman.
“Canada is a hotbed of movie pirating, which is a billion-dollar loss to the movie industry,” Mark Christiansen, executive vice-president of operations for Paramount Picture’s motion picture distribution.
“The perception is that Hollywood stars are the only ones hurt by this, but it affects everybody who works in theatres.”
Virginia Jones, director of policy and legal affairs for the Canadian Motion Picture Distributors Association, added, “We would have liked to see jail time, sending a stronger message. We hope this is just a starting point.”
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Result for: distributor
Blue Underground, a giant distributor of cult and horror movies on DVD has announced that they will begin releasing their titles on Blu-ray later this year.
There was no word on which titles would retail first or even what quarter the movies would be released in but Blue Underground has already put word on their website that they plan to support the format with a large number of Blu-ray releases.
First started in the early 90s, Blue Underground has a large catalog of cult and horror classics, including some of the more popular titles from legends of film making like Dario Argento, Lucio Fulci, Larry Cohen, and George A. Romero.
