Is Media Blasters Out of Business?

Ptflea2 · 08-15-2010, 05:52 AM

Can anyone confirm or deny this?:

http://www.avmaniacs.com/forums/show...7&postcount=39

Paff · 08-15-2010, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ptflea2

Can anyone confirm or deny this?:

http://www.avmaniacs.com/forums/show...7&postcount=39

I don't think so. They had a booth at Comic-Con last month. Smaller than what they've had in the past, but still plenty of discs for sale.

X-human · 08-15-2010, 03:59 PM

The question isn't how many discs they have for sale, it's how many they've been able to sell.

Looks like there were lay offs earlier this year: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news...offs-furloughs

Media Blasters has been notorious for missing deadlines, so it's hard to say with any certainty what's going on. Whatever it may be, it ain't looking good. Wizard World is this weekend, I'll ask my friends to keep an eye out for their booth.

Samhoryak · 08-15-2010, 04:01 PM

The message does say that this month was when the crap really hit the fan with the warehouse being locked up. A lot changes in a month.

I hope they stay around and these are just rumors. They have released some of my favorite films.

Jeremy · 08-15-2010, 08:18 PM

I don't have any numbers/specifics in regards to Media Blasters itself, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was true. This economy is murderous on small businesses and film distribution has not fared much better than any other industry.

TheDreamMaster · 08-15-2010, 08:21 PM

I hope it's not true; if it is, they had a hell of a run. And I still have titles to get from them, so I guess now's the time.

rhett · 08-15-2010, 11:10 PM

I've sent a message to one of the higher ups at Media Blasters. Will post a news update once I hear back from him. Hopefully they're still around...

KamuiX · 08-16-2010, 02:38 AM

If this turns out to be true, definitely have to pick some stuff up before they're going for exorbitant prices. It'll be a real shame not only due to the fact that I doubt anyone else would bother releasing Buio Omega on Blu, but I fear what will happen to their massive catalog of titles, many of which may never been seen on R1 again. This is somewhat of a shock considering they tended to release pretty much anything, regardless of quality, giving the appearance they were just fine monetarily and willing to still take risks on things that clearly weren't going to sell.

dave13 · 08-16-2010, 03:29 AM

so this would mean no more shriek show? i can't believe that.

Erick H. · 08-16-2010, 05:21 AM

I hope it's not the case.Maybe they didn't always make their deadlines but a lot of their releases were really great.

08-16-2010, 05:49 PM

i think they still have their online store. i have a MB dvd i just cant remember what movie

Paff · 08-16-2010, 06:59 PM

I still wouldn't ignore the Comic-Con presence. While not as big as usual, the booth was at least double-size (that's gonna be a few thousand dollars alone), and was staffed by several people, not to mention there were guest signings and special appearances. This amounts to lots of money for plane fare (MB is based in New York) and hotel rooms for everyone. They probably spent at least $10-20K to have a presence at Con, not typical behavior for a dying company.

Still, if they did indeed go tits-up, hunt around for their titles. Don't assume they're all hard-to-find. In fact, they probably get sold to various wholesalers for pennies on the dollar. I remember when Tartan initially died, I was able to go to a swap meet (flea market) and the DVD wholesalers had tons of unopened Tartan movies (Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, etc) all for no more than $5 each.

TheDreamMaster · 08-16-2010, 07:03 PM

Hope you're right about MB, would be a shame to see them go.

As for Tartan, I had the same experience--went to a flea market this summer, and it was littered with their releases for a buck each.

rhett · 08-16-2010, 10:59 PM

Well, I spoke to one of the higher ups, or should I say former higher ups. He no longer works for them, and says that most of that AV Maniacs thread is "mostly true". He does state that the BUIO OMEGA HD transfer is completed, so it would just be a matter of pressing the disc, but that given their current situation he says "I wouldn't hold my breath on anything coming out of that place."

Unless they're trying to weather the storm with only a couple staffers remaining, I think it's sadly safe to say we've lost another to the recession...

Serega_M · 08-16-2010, 11:20 PM

Quote:

I think it's sadly safe to say we've lost another to the recession...

Noy only to the recession but to the ever increasing online piracy and illegal sharing as well, as a lot of people nowadays do not even understand how it is - to pay for a movie... At least where I live.

08-15-2010, 05:52 AM	#1
Ptflea2 Maniac Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 749	Is Media Blasters Out of Business? Can anyone confirm or deny this?: http://www.avmaniacs.com/forums/show...7&postcount=39

08-15-2010, 03:59 PM	#3
X-human I ate my keys Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 6,320	The question isn't how many discs they have for sale, it's how many they've been able to sell. Looks like there were lay offs earlier this year: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news...offs-furloughs Media Blasters has been notorious for missing deadlines, so it's hard to say with any certainty what's going on. Whatever it may be, it ain't looking good. Wizard World is this weekend, I'll ask my friends to keep an eye out for their booth. __________________ The combined weight of the horrors I have authored wrought would crush your carbon hearts into perfect diamonds of terror! A Few Ants Short. And what the hell, check out my DVD Collection won't you?

08-15-2010, 08:21 PM	#6
TheDreamMaster Stalker Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 159	I hope it's not true; if it is, they had a hell of a run. And I still have titles to get from them, so I guess now's the time. __________________ Oh, The Horror--Reviews from All Decades, All Sub-Genres!

08-15-2010, 11:10 PM	#7
rhett Moderator Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Canada Posts: 8,876	I've sent a message to one of the higher ups at Media Blasters. Will post a news update once I hear back from him. Hopefully they're still around... __________________ "It's a good scream...it's a good scream..."

08-16-2010, 02:38 AM	#8
KamuiX The Eighth Samurai Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 1,948	If this turns out to be true, definitely have to pick some stuff up before they're going for exorbitant prices. It'll be a real shame not only due to the fact that I doubt anyone else would bother releasing Buio Omega on Blu, but I fear what will happen to their massive catalog of titles, many of which may never been seen on R1 again. This is somewhat of a shock considering they tended to release pretty much anything, regardless of quality, giving the appearance they were just fine monetarily and willing to still take risks on things that clearly weren't going to sell. __________________ Please visit my site...It's the future! Wii Friend Code: 8897-8584-2714-5768 // XBL & PS3 GamerTag: KamuiXZero

08-15-2010, 04:01 PM	#4
Samhoryak Screamy Bopper Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 25	The message does say that this month was when the crap really hit the fan with the warehouse being locked up. A lot changes in a month. I hope they stay around and these are just rumors. They have released some of my favorite films.

08-15-2010, 08:18 PM	#5
Jeremy Closet SCREAM fan Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 844	I don't have any numbers/specifics in regards to Media Blasters itself, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was true. This economy is murderous on small businesses and film distribution has not fared much better than any other industry.

08-16-2010, 03:29 AM	#9
dave13 HackMaster Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 3,761	so this would mean no more shriek show? i can't believe that.

08-16-2010, 05:21 AM	#10
Erick H. HackMaster Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 7,440	I hope it's not the case.Maybe they didn't always make their deadlines but a lot of their releases were really great.

08-16-2010, 05:49 PM	#11
Touch The Sun Guest Posts: n/a	i think they still have their online store. i have a MB dvd i just cant remember what movie

08-16-2010, 06:59 PM	#12
Paff Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,537	I still wouldn't ignore the Comic-Con presence. While not as big as usual, the booth was at least double-size (that's gonna be a few thousand dollars alone), and was staffed by several people, not to mention there were guest signings and special appearances. This amounts to lots of money for plane fare (MB is based in New York) and hotel rooms for everyone. They probably spent at least $10-20K to have a presence at Con, not typical behavior for a dying company. Still, if they did indeed go tits-up, hunt around for their titles. Don't assume they're all hard-to-find. In fact, they probably get sold to various wholesalers for pennies on the dollar. I remember when Tartan initially died, I was able to go to a swap meet (flea market) and the DVD wholesalers had tons of unopened Tartan movies (Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, etc) all for no more than $5 each. __________________ CINEMA PAFF - Your BB-Movie Showcase * * - The extra B is for BYOBB Paff's Laserdiscs

08-16-2010, 07:03 PM	#13
TheDreamMaster Stalker Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 159	Hope you're right about MB, would be a shame to see them go. As for Tartan, I had the same experience--went to a flea market this summer, and it was littered with their releases for a buck each. __________________ Oh, The Horror--Reviews from All Decades, All Sub-Genres!

08-16-2010, 10:59 PM	#14
rhett Moderator Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Canada Posts: 8,876	Well, I spoke to one of the higher ups, or should I say former higher ups. He no longer works for them, and says that most of that AV Maniacs thread is "mostly true". He does state that the BUIO OMEGA HD transfer is completed, so it would just be a matter of pressing the disc, but that given their current situation he says "I wouldn't hold my breath on anything coming out of that place." Unless they're trying to weather the storm with only a couple staffers remaining, I think it's sadly safe to say we've lost another to the recession... __________________ "It's a good scream...it's a good scream..."

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode