HIGH-DEF DISC NEWS TAGGED "WARNER BROS"

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Warner, Universal, and Sony Pictures Post Profits for the Quarter

Despite plenty of panic, movie studios are doing just fine.

Though movie studios speak doom because of piracy and low attendance rates, they've done incredibly well in the second quarter of 2011.

Warner Bros. did particularly well, bringing in $524 million, spurred on by the final 'Harry Potter' movie. That's a 162 percent increase over 2010, when they brought in $324 million. In all, the company is expected to have 19 percent greater revenue in 2011.

Sony Pictures brought in a ton of cash too - an income of $278 million. It's a good chunk of change, especially when compared to last year's loss of $58 million. Universal brought in a 20 percent increase that was helped along by DVD and Blu-ray sales.

Source: Home Media Magazine

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Warner Bros Adds Five More Movies to Facebook

The test is expanding with the addition of a few 'Harry Potter' movies, 'Inception,' and more.

Apparently the whole Facebook rental thing has been working out well for Warner Bros. Well enough, at least, that they're expanding the test out to include five more movies. Just like with 'The Dark Knight' you'll be able to rent them directly through Facebook.

The new titles include 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone,' 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,' 'Inception', 'Life as we Know it' and 'Yogi Bear.' It's a strong list, and should let Warner know exactly what they can expect from Facebook rentals.

You can find the videos at each movie's official Facebook page, which Warner hopes you already visit regularly. "These titles have substantial followings on Facebook," says digital distribution president Thomas Gewecke. "The Fan Pages for ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Inception’ alone are two of the most popular and active communities on the site."

Source: Business Wire

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How the Studios Lost Out on Netflix

If things had gone a little bit differently back in 2002, we could be seeing a very different Netflix right now.

Story time. The year is 2002 and a fledgling DVD-by-mail company known as Netflix goes public. Warner Bros makes a deal for pre-IPO stock in the company, and the rest of the studios jump on board. The company moves slowly, and the major studios sell their stock.

Somewhere back in 2008 things started to change for the company. Streamed content was gaining popularity thanks to inclusion on the Xbox 360 and more devices were soon to follow. Now Netflix has become a giant in the industry, with stock trading at around $170 a share.

Of course, if the studios had held on to their stock it's unlikely we'd still have the service we have today.

Source: The Wrap

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