Run that by me one more time, and Tesco rumours

Another early segment on GMTV, dealing with pirate DVDs. Penny Smith interviewed Eddy Leviten of FACT . After dealing with the general quality of the goods and how people can tell they're fake, Penny mentioned what she hears from when she out and about regarding people.

"If the companies, the film companies actually reduce the price of these films on DVDs down to a reasonable amount; wouldn't want to go to these, buy these pirate DVDs."

The reply from Eddy

"I can't comment on the individual film companies, but there's a huge investment in new product; both in the UK and worldwide. If you're buying a pirate DVD you're not only contributing to the criminal economy [he's already mentioned 'the criminal economy' several times previously], but you're depreciating the investment in new product and new films, you know like 'The Queen' for example, which is winning lots of awards; won't get made again. Those jobs in the UK economy won't happen; the taxpayer won't get any money, it won't go to fund new hospitals, new roads and everything else."

Uh-huh so the prices we're being charged are justified by the fact that it's all being ploughed back into making more high-quality films - yep I'm sure we all believe that. Just in case though mention the "criminal economy" again, tie that back to the investment, then confuse the matter by talking about funding hospitals. In other words at no point discuss the actual cost of the DVDs - masterful.

So let's start at the beginning - a new film comes out (normally in the States) and gets flogged to death over here where um we can't see it. Someone offers you a copy for £2 on DVD, gee what's going to happen next.

Failing that the film arrives over here (and they have been getting better time-wise) and you first have to locate a cinema showing it, which despite the resurgence in cinemas can still be problematic; you then plonk down some money to sit in a darkened room watching a film that, last time I went, is slightly out of focus and has the bass turned up to high trying to catch the mumbled dialogue of the actors over the crunching of popcorn and whispered comments of "What did he say"; or someone offers you a copy of the film on DVD for £2 which is probably a copy of the one already released in the States; no brainer.

Finally the DVD is properly released over here for rent without any of the extras, or the same thing for £2 pirated.

Next up it goes for sale again generally sans all the extras on the Stateside Region 1 release we're not supposed to have; cost anywhere from £16-£20 upwards. Or again the pirate version probably without extras for £2. Now knowing that anywhere from 3 months up to a year's time the price will probably drop down to £6, how can you justify spending this much on it right now? And if you can't do that how can the film companies justify the cost of them?


Tesco rumours just in. As mentioned in my last entry, taken from the Kidderminster Shuttle, letters were sent out to local residents regarding a meeting to be held on Tuesday (ie tomorrow), however a reliable source has just informed me that he's been told by one of said locals that the/a meeting is being held today - invitation only, no press. Now either the local has got the day wrong, which from details I know is unlikely; they're holding two meetings; or they've accidentally informed the newspaper of the wrong day. In either case the detailing that it's supposed to be invitation-only with no press is unlikely to be wrong. So why wouldn't Tesco want an open forum and discussion? After all, in reality, this does affect the entire town?

Update - as per Tav's comment and post the meeting is being held on Tuesday (today) so my informant once removed got the day wrong, but it's still invitation only, no media.

Rumours are also flying that the Co-op have threatened to pull out of the town if the new store is built.

So what have we got so far:

• House prices set to decrease due to proximity of store.
• Car park feeding off the major access road, thereby potentially leading to more tailbacks through the town.
• Introducing a pedestrian crossing on said major road next to a blind corner.
• Potential dumping of trolleys in the Stour.
• Loss of trade in the town centre, contrary to recommendations by commissioned reports to increase said trade.
• Threats by one of the other major supermarkets to leave town if the new store is built.

Neat.