Best Buy has gone and done it again. Many will probably remember Best Buy struck a deal to exclusively distribute the Rolling Stones box set Four Flicks much to the uproar of other retailers. Some competitors went as far as pulling Rolling Stones products from their shelves in protest. This time a deal has been struck for exclusive DVD editions with distributor Anchor Bay for three popular television shows on DVD, as well as with MGM to distribute some cinema classics.Keep reading if you wanna know which. According to Video Business Online the three exclusive television boxed sets will include none other then cult favorites Xena, Hercules and Highlander. Specifically season 3 and 4 of Xena, season 2 of Hercules and season 4 of Highlander will carry a 30 minute featurette exclusive to Best Buy.Speaking on the matter, Best Buy competitors seemed confident.Quoting Video Business directly –“Overall, Xena, Hercules and Highlander are relatively modest DVD sellers. Consequently, Anchor Bay doesn’t need to fret over the exclusives, Best Buy competitors demurred.”It’s a small slice of our business,” said Mark Lowery, Tower product manager. “If we had known about [the Best Buy versions], we might have reacted by not buying Xena and Hercules. But we’re buying such a low quantity of them anyway.”Currently, Tower does not stock all of its stores with these DVD titles but only in those outlets that have historically done well with them.”I really don’t like exclusives,” said Ted Engen, president of the Video Buyers Group and president of chain Total Entertainment “But unless it’s a big major hit, it doesn’t really affect us that much. If Spider-Man 2 is released two days ahead of everyone [at Best Buy], I’d be the first one getting a hold of our attorney.” “Also, davisdvd.com reports that MGM has struck a deal to exclusively distribute the double movie “Midnight Movies” series of DVD’s.Titles include:The Abominable Dr. Phibes/Dr. Phibes Rises Again, Attack of the Puppet People/Village of the Giants, Beach Blanket Bingo/How to Stuff a Wild Bikini, Beach Party/Bikini Beach, Count Yorga Vampire/The Return of Count Yorga, Empire of the Ants/Tentacles, The Fall of the House of Usher/The Pit and the Pendulum, Gas-s-s-s-s/Wild in the Streets, The Ghost of Dragstrip Hollow/The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini, The Incredible Two-Headed Transplant/The Thing With Two Heads, Invasion of the Star Creatures/Invasion of the Bee Girls, The Land That Time Forgot/People That Time Forgot, Theatre of Blood/Madhouse and The Wild Angels/Hell’s Belles.Retail Price is apparently $14.95 usAlthough not mentioned, Canadian consumers will likely find the 3 Anchor Bay exclusives as well as the MGM exclusives also stocked at the Future Shop chain of stores as well as their local Best Buy. Its parent company is Best Buy and they also stocked the Four Flicks Rolling Stones DVD.
