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FLEXIBLE TECHNOLOGY: Flexplay Technologies will launch the Flexplay DVD—a special type of DVD that is playable only for a predetermined, limited time period—at the Oct. 24 MTV Video Music Awards Latinoamerica show taking place at Miami Beach's Jackie Gleason Theater. The DVD is playable in all DVD machines or gaming systems that play standard DVDs and will be distributed to attendees along with the evening's program. It will contain music videos and other content from nominated artists Kinky, Celso Piña, Ely Guerra, Manú Chao, and Enrique Búnbury.

Flexplay CEO Alan Blaustein says the concept, in development since early last year, is particularly applicable to the music industry, which is "trying to properly migrate their consumer base from the CD to the DVD. There are also opportunities in the videogame space, maybe a 'try before you buy.' We can set it to play from eight to 60 hours, depending on its different uses."

Blaustein adds that Flexplay is currently working on a promotion with Atlantic Records. The plan will be to offer a Flexplay DVD featuring an Atlantic recording artist for free with the purchase of one of the company's CDs at a major retailer.



DEEP-POCKET COMPETITOR: Netflix has long been the dominant online DVD rental portal, and consumer interest is still rising: Subscribers increased 122% in the third quarter compared with the same period last year, and the company recently announced its customer base stands at 742,000. Now it is facing its first major competitor, with a new program from Wal-Mart.

This month, the mass merchant is launching a test of its Wal-Mart DVD Rentals online program. For an $18.86 monthly fee, customers may rent up to three DVD titles at a time, Wal-Mart spokeswoman Cynthia Lin says. (Netflix's $19.95 fee also covers three DVD rentals at a time.) Like Netflix, customers create a list of movies they would like to view online, and they receive three of these films in the mail. When one is returned via special prepaid packaging, a new DVD from their list is sent out. Based on feedback from the test customers, Wal-Mart will ready a full-scale launch for 2003.

In other retail news, Best Buy, Circuit City, and Sears are now selling JVC's D-VHS players. The $1,300 machines may be found at 600 Sears locations nationwide and at all Best Buy and Circuit City stores.

UP TO THE PLATE: As the baseball season draws to a close, fans will have a chance to revisit classic moments from the sport with Q Video/Major League Baseball (MLB) Productions' Major League Baseball Memorable Moments: The 30 Most Memorable Moments in Baseball History, available Tuesday (22) on VHS ($14.95) and DVD ($19.95).

The project features such key clips as Roger Maris breaking Babe Ruth's single-season home-run record and Lou Gehrig's farewell speech. The moments were chosen by a panel of historians, writers, MLB executives, and celebrities. The DVD has 50 minutes of extras, including newsreels and extended footage of other historic moments.

Marketing efforts for the title will include a cross-promotion with the banking institution MBNA that will see special inserts placed in more than 1 million credit card bills. The allergy medication Clarinex has also created ticket lanyards with a discount coupon for the title to be distributed at game three of the World Series.

On Nov. 26, Q Video/MLB Productions will also release The Official 2002 World Series Home Video on VHS/DVD ($19.95 each). The annually produced highlight video was No. 1 on the Billboard year-end Top Recreational Sports Videos chart in 2001. The project features more than an hour of World Series footage and related interviews.

Q Video director of sales and marketing Don Spielvogel says promotions "will be market-driven," depending on the series winner. A premiere party for the video will be held in the winning team's city, and retail promotions will gear toward this location.



DIESEL DVD: The Vin Diesel film XXX will reach stores Dec. 31 as a special-edition DVD (Columbia TriStar, $27.96). Available in widescreen or full screen, it will include such extras as behind-the-scenes documentaries and Gavin Rossdale's "Adrenaline" music video.