FOX JOINS PSP MOVIE FRAY

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http://www.videobusiness.com/article...0&catType=NEWS

Execs at 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment all are evaluating how they will generate movie titles for Sony's Playstation Portable handheld games system.

Buena Vista Home Entertainment was the inaugural major studio, other than Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, to devote flicks to the PSP. But the others' participation flashes the first industry-wide thumbs-up for the new PSP Universal Media Disc format.

With its support for Sony HD format Blu-Ray, it wasn't a surprise when Buena Vista committed such films as National Treasure and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl for the company's latest device. But the fact that truer rivals Fox, Universal and Paramount are circling PSP seems to bode well for the PSP's success. Universal and Paramount are attached to HD DVD and Fox remains undecided.

Fox is believed to be in advanced negotiations to release titles. Retailers understand that film titles Dodgeball, Napoleon Dynamite, I, Robot, Super Troopers and Predator are among the likely UMD output this year. The studio didn't give title specifics.

Universal also is considered likely to commit to releasing movies for PSP. The studio is working on a final decision, which could see Uni entering the PSP market by mid-summer.

Paramount is said to be assessing its involvement, but its timeline on a decision is less clear.

"I think by the end of the year most, if not all, of the studios will be releasing movies on PSP," Sony president Ben Feingold suggested. "For a format to be successful, it's important to have a broad product offering. We've been working with all the studios to help them get up to speed on releasing product."

Last week, Sony unveiled a fresh slate of UMD content priced at $19.95. Coming June 14 are Daddy Day Care, Bad Boys, Spider-Man: The New Animated Series--Mutant Menace and The Grudge. Hitting retail June 28 will be Resident Evil, Starship Troopers, Air Force One and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Disney also recently announced several new PSP movie titles (VB, 4-25).

Feingold is open to collaborating with studios on joint marketing and advertising strategies. He believes corporate cooperation was a big help in getting the DVD format off the ground in the late '90s.

Retailers reported strong first week sales (VB, 4-25), representing another boost for the PSP. Some store executives were initially hesitant that consumers would pay to view on a small screen movies that they might have already bought on DVD. Some PSP titles also lack bonus features that usually come standard on DVDs.

"This is the second format I've been involved in launching," Feingold said. "There was some skepticism to DVD. And there was a little skepticism with PSP on the movie side. But it's off to a fantastic start."