Video NewsBriefs, August 2011
Aug 15, 2011Reference publisher Facts On File has bolstered its Modern World History Online database, which covers world history from the mid-15th century to the present day, with a range of primary source video content, including a new video gallery and video player and more than 600 additional video newsreels focusing on World War II–era footage. For ordering, pricing, or other information, contact the Online Sales Department at 800-322-8755 or onlinesales@infobaselearning.com.
June 7 marked the launch of Milestone Film & Video’s new Milestone-on-Demand video line. The inaugural releases include David Hockney and Philip Haas’s A Day on the Grand Canal with the Emperor of China, Yevgeni Tsymbal’s Dziga and His Brothers: A Film Family on the Cutting Edge, and Joseph Krumgold’s And Now, Miguel. Subsequent releases will span silent films, documentaries, foreign films, and classic comedy shorts. More at www.milestonefilms.com.
Wolfgang’s Vault, an online archive of live music recordings and memorabilia, recently launched Video Vault, which consolidates for the first time a collection of over 4000 restored concert videos from the past 50 years, many previously unseen. The fully curated, streamable collection is available for free online and on mobile platforms. New material will continue to be added to the catalog as Wolfgang’s acquires collections and inputs material from its in-studio “Vault Sessions” and its sister site Daytrotter, an indie music hub. More at www.wolfgangsvault.com/video.
According to a new report issued by the research firm NPD Group (ow.ly/5L7iq), sales to U.S. consumers of Blu-ray players for the 2011 first quarter rose by nine percent over the first quarter of 2010. NPD attributes this uptick in part to lower costs but also to the ability of Blu-ray players to double as media-streaming devices. Per NPD’s press release, “50 percent of consumers who intend to buy Blu-ray set-top players in the next six months cited the desire to use available subscription video download services as a primary reason.” This boost in sales of Blu-ray players has, in turn, NPD reports, also bumped up sales of Blu-ray discs.—Mike Rogers
