Posted Thu Dec 10, 2009 at 01:00 PM PST by Mike Attebery
Kino and Lorber, who announced a merger this Wednesday, are likely familiar names to any fan of arthouse and foreign films. Between them, they make up a big chunk of the market.
According to Richard Lorber, one of the co-presidents of the new Kino Lorber label, the merger is in no small way due to the decreasing market for niche DVDs and Blu-ray discs. Kino’s Donald Krim agrees, adding “The market is tough out there.”
Lorber says it was more than just a difficult sales path that made the deal happen. “We saw an opportunity to combine our resources,” he says. “It’s time now to become the biggest of the little guys.”
Each label will continue to exist on its own, with the main thrust of the combined effort being that of sales. Neither label will see layoffs, and they hope that the combined sales force of both companies will result in greater success for all involved.
In addition to a selection of foreign language Oscar nominees that, after a stint in theaters, will be making their ways to Blu-ray and DVD, Kino is working on something special. A long rumored restored version of the Fritz Lang film 'Metropolis' will be hitting Blu-ray in 2010.
Source: Video Business
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