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Shout Factory Preps '2016 World Series Champions: Chicago Cubs' Blu-ray[teaser]The World Series champs will slide into home on Blu-ray in December.[/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Shout Factory is preparing '2016 World Series Champions: Chicago Cubs' for Blu-ray on December 6. In addition, a Collector's Edition will be released on December 13. '2016 World Series Champions: Chicago Cubs' - All droughts end with rain. The cleansing washes away all of the curses and superstitions and improbable losses. The Chicago Cubs ended their drought. Fly the W! The Cubs are 2016 World Series champions! The 2016 Fall Classic was the end of a long road. Generations of families and friends celebrated cherished memories newly washed by a championship. And it was, perhaps even the beginning of a new kind of journey for the Cubs and their fans. Owner Tom Ricketts and General Manager Theo Epstein collaborated to shape a staff and team that could pull off the most epic of championships. With a powerful combination of talent and grit, Manager Joe Maddon’s cast of Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, Jake Arrieta, Dexter Fowler, Jon Lester and World Series MVP Ben Zobrist, the Cubs played better baseball than the Giants and Dodgers to set up a historically dramatic World Series against the Indians. Of course, it would come down to a Game 7 full of surprise, anxiety, and excitement. The Cubs would overcome a tenacious Indians comeback, using a mythical rain delay, inspirational speech, and an extra inning of baseball to crown a 103-win season with a World Series title. All the way, Cubs. All the way. This historic official film from Major League Baseball presents the exciting story of the Chicago Cubs 2016 World Series championship run through comprehensive highlights, exclusive access and interviews, and breathtaking footage. Specs have not been detailed yet, but supplements will include: - Regular Season Highlights- Clinching Moments- World Series Highlights- World Series Parade Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.99. Order the Blu-ray '2016 World Series Collector's Edition: Chicago Cubs' - The Chicago Cubs are World Series Champions! Every inning, play, and heart-stopping moment of the 2016 World Series! Each definitive 2016 World Series game is presented in its entirety, preserving the complete, unedited footage of every Fall Classic game and key Postseason games. This set boasts 8 full game broadcasts including all games from the 2016 World Series bonus games from the Postseason and beyond! Specs have not been detailed yet, but supplements will include: - Bonus disc of the pennant-clinching NLCS Game 6 at Wrigley Field- Four audio options: television broadcast, Cubs Radio Network announcers, the Indians Radio Network or a Spanish-language version of the broadcasts Suggested list price for the 8-Disc Blu-ray is $79.97. Order the Blu-ray You can find the latest specs for '2016 World Series Champions: Chicago Cubs' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under December 6.Posted Fri Dec 2, 2016 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
'Masterminds' Blu-ray Dated and Detailed[teaser]The heist comedy will arrive on Blu-ray in January. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox says 'Masterminds' is headed for Blu-ray on January 31. Zach Galifianakis is armed and dangerously funny in this hilarious action-comedy inspired by an incredible but true story! David (Galifianakis) is an unassuming armored-truck driver who longs for adventure. Lured into the scheme of a lifetime by his beautiful work crush Kelly (Kristen Wiig) and her cohort Steve (Owen Wilson), David manages the impossible and makes off with $17 million in cash. But when his partners-in-crime keep the loot and set him up for a fall, David must dodge the authorities, evade a hitman (Jason Sudeikis) and find a way to take back what he rightfully stole! The combo pack will feature 1080p video, lossless 5.1 audio, and supplements include The Imperfect Crime featurette. You can find the latest specs for 'Masterminds' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under January 31.Posted Fri Dec 2, 2016 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
Comcast Preps Sling TV Support for X1 Platform[teaser]The internet TV service will be available through Comcast's X1.[/teaser] Comcast has announced plans to bring Sling TV to its X1 platform. The streaming TV service will offer even more content options to Comcast customers, including hundreds of new multicultural programs and channels. "The addition of Sling TV's multicultural programming will be an excellent complement to the existing international offerings on X1 and will be attractive to our customers," said Javier Garcia, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Multicultural Services for Comcast Cable. "Our customers are becoming increasingly diverse and this is a fantastic opportunity to quickly deliver even more customized and multicultural programming to them, on an X1 platform that's smart, fast and easy-to-use." Sling TV offers a variety of live streaming and on-demand programming packages with a total library of more than 425 channels, including 320+ multicultural networks in 21 languages. The service's multicultural packages start at $10 per month. In addition, the base Sling TV Orange plan currently costs $20 per month and features more than 30 channels, including Disney/ESPN stations. Meanwhile, the base Sling TV Blue plan costs $25 per month and features more than 40 channels, including FOX and NBC stations. Finally, customers can also opt to combine both plans for $40 per month. "Sling TV’s debut on Comcast’s X1 is another step forward in our promise to consumers to be available on their favorite platforms," said Ben Weinberger, Chief Product Officer, Sling TV. "For the first time, millions of Comcast customers will have access to new multicultural programming options as well as the full suite of Sling TV programming." An exact launch date for Sling TV on the Comcast X1 platform has not been announced yet. Source: Sling TVPosted Fri Dec 2, 2016 at 06:30 AM PST by: -
Stephen Kijak's 'We Are X' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]The music documentary will be available on Blu-ray in March. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Magnolia says 'We Are X' will arrive on Blu-ray on March 7. From the production team behind the Academy Award winning Searching for Sugar Man, We Are X is a transcendent and beautifully shot rock 'n' roll story about the Japanese band X Japan, one of the biggest rock bands in the world. Celebrated as "a fascinating and assured documentary" (The New York Times) that "tells the greatest rock 'n' roll story America has never heard" (Pitchfork), the film is directed by acclaimed documentarian Stephen Kijak (Stones In Exile, Scott Walker: 30 Century Man). The critically acclaimed music documentary premiered theatrically starting October 21 via Drafthouse Films and is continuing to expand in theaters in over 40 markets nationwide. Under the enigmatic direction of Yoshiki, composer, classically-trained pianist, drummer/percussionist, and the creative force behind the group, X Japan has sold over 30 million singles and albums combined, captivating such a wide range of admirers such as Sir George Martin, Gene Simmons, Marilyn Manson, Stan Lee, and the Japanese Emperor, while pioneering a spectacle-driven style of visual rock called Visual Kei, a one-of-a-kind cultural phenomenon. We Are X is an intimate portrait of a deeply haunted – but truly unstoppable – virtuoso and the music that has enthralled legions of the world's most devoted fans. "We Are X is an extraordinary and exhilarating documentary about the cultural phenomenon Yoshiki and his best-selling band X Japan," said Randy Wells, Head of Magnolia Home Entertainment. "Stephen Kijak's film is a true celebration of Yoshiki's enduring legacy." "I've been overwhelmed by the reception to the film thus far," said Kijak. "I couldn't be more excited to be working with Magnolia, who I have admired for so long, to continue to spread Yoshiki's inspiring message of salvation through art and the incredible story of X Japan to the masses." "We are delighted to be in the hands of such an experienced and successful distributor," said Producer John Battsek. "We are excited to partner with Magnolia to continue to tell the unbelievable story of Yoshiki and X Japan. Magnolia really is the perfect home for We Are X." You can find the latest specs for 'We Are X' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 7.Posted Fri Dec 2, 2016 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
Amazon Readies New Original Kids Series 'Bug Diaries' & 'Sigmund and the Sea Monsters'[teaser]Two new streaming kids shows are heading to Prime Video.[/teaser] Amazon has announced the latest additions to its lineup of original kids series. The upcoming shows include 'Bug Diaries' and 'Sid & Marty Krofft's Sigmund and the Sea Monsters.' "We are so excited to bring this beloved series, Bug Diaries, to our customers that highlights important life lessons for our young viewers," said Tara Sorensen, Head of Kids Programming at Amazon Studios. "We also look forward to reviving the classic Sigmund and the Sea Monsters that has a strong message of friendship." 'The Bug Diaries' - An animated comedy series for preschoolers based on the witty children’s books by best-selling author Doreen Cronin and best-selling Illustrator Harry Bliss. The show follows a comic trio of slimy, crawly, and buzzy bug friends whose tiny world offers up huge adventures. Pairing kid-personalities with incredible bug abilities, the series will give us a mile-high look at the world through Fly’s compound eyes, let us squirm in Worm’s “footsteps", and literally hang around with Spider as they record their adventures, each in their own way, in their bug diaries. 'Sid & Marty Krofft present Sigmund and the Sea Monsters' - A live action show for children ages 6 to 11, based on their classic Saturday morning series from the 1970s. The show is centered on two brothers, Johnny and Scotty, who along with their cousin Robyn befriend Sigmund, a friendly young sea-monster who escapes from his old life and his comically dysfunctional brothers Slurp and Blurp. Now, using a Clubhouse as their hiding place, the gang must keep Sigmund safe from an ambitious sea-monster hunter Captain Barnabas. The show is executive produced by Sid & Marty Krofft (H.R. Pufnstuf, Land of the Lost) with the pilot directed by Jonathan Judge (The Thundermans, School of Rock) and starring David Arquette (Scream, Jake and the Neverland Pirates) as Captain Barnabas. Garrett Frawley and Brian Turner (Santa Baby) wrote the new teleplay based on the classic series. Exact release dates for both series have not been announced yet. A current Amazon Prime subscription costs $99 per year or $11 per month. Likewise, Prime Video is available as a standalone service for $9 per month. Source: AmazonPosted Fri Dec 2, 2016 at 05:30 AM PST by: -
Cyber Monday HD Gear Deals Week: Up to 54% off LG & TCL 4K Ultra HD TVs![teaser]Amazon is offering big discounts on select LG and TCL 4K TVs! [/teaser] As part of the online retailer's Cyber Monday Deals Store, Amazon is running a special sale on Ultra HD TVs from LG and TCL. LG Electronics 65UH7700 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart TV - Currently $1,297 (54% off). LG Electronics 60UH8500 60-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart TV - Currently $1,297 (44% off). LG Electronics 55UH8500 55-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart TV - Currently $1,097 (15% off). TCL 43UP130 43-Inch 4K Ultra HD Roku Smart TV - Currently $400 (43% off). TCL 65US5800 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD Roku Smart TV - Currently $1,000 (23% off). These deals will only be active for a limited time while supplies last. Make sure to stay tuned to High-Def Digest for more Cyber Monday sales and special promotions!Posted Thu Dec 1, 2016 at 03:15 PM PST by: -
LeEco Expands 4K Ultra HD TV Availability to Amazon, Best Buy, and More[teaser]The company's Ultra HD TV lineup is now available through various retail and online stores.[/teaser] LeEco has announced the national retail launch of its ecotv collection, including the flagship uMax85 85-inch Ultra HD TV and the Super4 X Series 43-inch, 55-inch, and 65-inch Ultra HD TVs. The displays are now available through Best Buy, Amazon, and more, as well as www.lemall.com. In addition, the company has also detailed a special DirecTV Now promotion for select LeEco purchases. "We continue to bring to life our vision of a connected ecosystem that puts content at the center of the experience. With today's announcements, we are making our premium products and the best content even more accessible," said Danny Bowman, Chief Revenue Officer for LeEco North America. "We've had tremendous success with our direct-to-consumer ecommerce site, LeMall.com, but we're thrilled to be working with the top retailers to make our products more accessible." The premium uMax85 is an 85-inch Ultra HD TV with a slim industrial design and a full array LED panel with 448 active local dimming zones. In addition, the display supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision, along with Fluid Motion 1920 Display Technology and Harmon Kardon speakers. Under the hood, the smart TV is powered by a quad-core ARM Cortex CPU and quad-core ARM Mali-T820 GPU, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, and 64GB of internal SSD (Solid State Drive) storage. Meanwhile, the Super4 X Series displays use ultra-slim frames and ultra-narrow bezels. The Ultra HD TVs feature LCD LED panels with HDR support. Under the hood, the displays are each powered by a quad-core ARM Cortex CPU, a quad-core ARM Mali-T820 GPU, and 3GB DDR3 RAM. The 43-inch model includes 16GB of internal SSD storage, while the 55-inch and 65-inch models include 32GB. In addition, the 55-inch and 65-inch models also feature Harmon Kardon speakers. Finally, all four displays incorporate "eui," LeEco's fully native Android TV interface. The uMax85 85-inch Ultra HD TV ($4,999) and the Super4 X Series 43-inch ($649), 55-inch ($899), and 65-inch (1,399) Ultra HD TVs are now available. And as a special added bonus, from November 29 through January 5, customers who purchase a LeEco ecophone (Le S3 and Le Pro3) or Super4 X43 Pro ecotv will receive access to DIRECTV NOW for 3 months. Likewise, customers who buy a Super4 X55 or Super4 X65 will receive access to DIRECTV NOW for 6 months, and customers who purchase a uMax85 will receive access to DIRECTV NOW for 12 months. Source: LeEcoPosted Thu Dec 1, 2016 at 01:00 PM PST by: -
Peter Jackson's 'King Kong: Ultimate Edition' Blu-ray Bound[teaser]The 2005 adventure film will be getting an Ultimate Edition in February. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal is preparing 'King Kong: Ultimate Edition' for Blu-ray on February 7. Academy Award-winning director Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy) brings his sweeping cinematic vision to King Kong. Naomi Watts, Jack Black and Adrien Brody star in this spectacular film filled with heart-pounding action, terrifying creatures and groundbreaking special effects unlike anything you've seen before! Get ready for breathtaking action in this thrilling epic adventure about a legendary gorilla captured on a treacherous island and brought to civilization, where he faces the ultimate fight for survival. Experience the movie that critics are hailing as a "rousing, exciting cinematic adventure!" (Scott Mantz, Access Hollywood). The release will include both the theatrical and extended versions of the film and supplements include: 2006 Introductions by Peter Jackson; Recreating the Eighth Wonder: The Making of King Kong; Production Diaries; Post Production Diaries; Deleted Scenes with Introductions; The Eighth Blunder of the World; The Making of a Shot: The T-Rex Fight; Skull Island: A Natural History; Kong's New York, 1933; A Night in Vaudeville; King Kong Homage; Pre-Visualization Animatics; Conceptual Design Video Galleries; "The Present"; WETA Collectibles; The Volkswagen Touareg & King Kong; Trailers; U-Control: The Art Galleries; See More of NYC in "Wish You Were Here"; and Feature Commentary with Writer / Director Peter Jackson and with Co-Writer / Producer Philipa Boyen. You can find the latest specs for 'King Kong: Ultimate Edition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 7.Posted Thu Dec 1, 2016 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
Turner & Criterion Bring FilmStruck Streaming Service to Apple TV[teaser]The streaming platform geared toward film buffs is now available on Apple TV.[/teaser] The Criterion Collection and Turner Classic Movies have announced the addition of FilmStruck to the Apple TV. The ad-free subscription platform offers a curated and constantly refreshed library of streaming independent, art-house, international, cult, and contemporary cinema. "FilmStruck is a departure from the timeless Hollywood classics that we offer at TCM and a genuinely distinct offering for the streaming marketplace, focusing on a thoughtfully curated experience around hard-to-find, critically acclaimed, independent films from the most celebrated libraries in the world," said Jennifer Dorian, general manager of TCM and FilmStruck. "By combining the expertise at TCM and the Criterion Collection - two of the leading authorities in film preservation and history - we have created something really special that is a must-have for passionate film lovers." FilmStruck offers a mix of contemporary and classic arthouse, indie, foreign and cult films from many major studios and independent distributors, including Janus Films, Flicker Alley, Icarus Films, Kino, Milestone, Zeitgeist, Film Movement, Global Lens, First Run Features, Oscilloscope Laboratories, Shout Factory, Warner Bros., and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Likewise, the platform also includes extensive bonus content, filmmaker interviews and rare footage. Titles set to be featured include 'Babette's Feast,' 'Blood Simple,' 'Blow-Up,' 'Breaker Morant,' 'A Hard Day's Night,' 'Mad Max,' 'Metropolis,' 'Moulin Rouge,' 'My Life as a Dog,' 'Paths of Glory,' 'The Player,' 'A Room with a View,' 'Seven Samurai,' 'The Seventh Seal,' 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being,' 'Stardust Memories,' 'The Trip to Bountiful,' 'The Umbrellas of Cherbourg' and more. And beyond the standard FilmStruck library, subscribers can aslo sign up for the Criterion Channel -- a premium add-on service dedicated to the Criterion Collection with access to the company's entire streaming library of films and special features. Here's a full rundown of subscription plans per the press release: - FilmStruck Subscription: $6.99/month, offering hundreds of constantly refreshed, hard-to-find and critically acclaimed films, plus exclusive bonus content including hosted introductions, originally produced pieces, interviews and rare footage. - FilmStruck + The Criterion Channel Subscription: $10.99/month, offering everything in the FilmStruck subscription plus unlimited access to Criterion's entire streaming library of films and special features, along with channel-exclusive original programming such as filmmaker profiles, master classes, and curated series by celebrated guests from the film world and beyond. - Annual Subscription: $99/year for FilmStruck + The Criterion Channel (a $30 annual savings). FilmStruck is now available for Apple TV 4th generation devices through the Apple App store. In addition, the serive is also available for Amazon Fire TV, web, iOS and Android devices. New users can receive a special 14-day free trial. Source: FilmStruckPosted Thu Dec 1, 2016 at 11:30 AM PST by: -
Verizon & Fingerprint Team Up for New GizmoTab Next-Gen Kid's Tablet[teaser]The educational tablet is now available through Verizon.[/teaser] Verizon and Fingerprint have announced the launch of the new GizmoTab next-gen kid's tablet. The device features Fingerprint's family-friendly digital platform with hundreds of fun, educational apps curated and merchandised by age, subject, media type, and popular themes. "With the addition of the GizmoTab, Verizon has created a portfolio of family products that parents can trust and their children will enjoy for years to come," said Jeffrey Dietel, vice president, wireless devices, Verizon. "Since the launch of the Verizon Gizmo product line, we spent a lot of time listening to what our customers wanted in a kid's tablet. Parents told us that they wanted trusted and relevant content that would engage their children and the ability to add their own content. The GizmoTab meets both of those needs. We've created a great tablet kids and parents will love." The tablet features an 8" IPS TFT LCD display with a resolution of 1920x1200 and 282 PPI. Under the hood, the device is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 Octa Core processor running Android Marshmallow OS along with 3GB of RAM and a 5,100mAh battery. An 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera are integrated as well. Designed with children in mind, the GizmoTab's app library helps parents ensure quality screen time along with the ability to measure and tailor a child's progress and set appropriate time limits. In addition, customers who activate the tablet on Verizon's 4G LTE network will receive free unlimited access to 300 premium curated learning apps featuring brands like Crayola, DreamWorks Animation, Hasbro, The Jim Henson Company, Highlights for Children, HiT Entertainment, National Geographic, Sesame Workshop, Toca Boca, and more. Verizon's GizmoTab is now available for $250 without a plan or $80 with a new two-year contract. Sources: Verizon, FingerprintPosted Thu Dec 1, 2016 at 11:00 AM PST by:
