Blockbuster Entertainment Group has landed an exclusive on a college-boy favorite: this year’s version of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Video.
The Fort Lauderdale-based unit of Viacom will be the only video store carrying the videocassette for two months after Feb. 15, when the magazine hits the stands. The exclusive arrangement, however, does not bar discount stores such as Kmart, Target and Wal-Mart from carrying the video.
The move is good news for Blockbuster, but bad news for its competition.
Exclusive arrangements are opposed by the Video Software Dealers Association.
“We believe it is in the best interests of the retailers, the distributors and the public to make it available to as many outlets as possible,” said Robert Finlayson, spokesman for the Los Angeles-based trade association, which represents 3,700 video retailers, including Blockbuster.
In September, Blockbuster caused a stir in the industry when it persuaded Barbra Streisand to make exclusively available an extra song on her concert video. Tower Video, a 109-store California-based chain, said it dropped its contract to carry the Sony Music Corp. videocassette.
Although the Sports Illustrated contract will undoubtedly mean some lost business for independents and smaller chains, Finlayson said the industry would be more concerned if it looked like the exclusive contracts were becoming a trend.
Sports Illustrated is not a major producer of videos, and the Streisand exclusive came out of the music industry, Finlayson said.
Nevertheless, Blockbuster will seek exclusive arrangements if the opportunity arises, spokesman Wally Kneif said. At Blockbuster, the video will cost $5.99 with a purchase or rental, or $14.95 on its own.
As part of the deal, Blockbuster will run a 30-second commercial on the NBC television swimsuit show, and will run full-page ads in two February issues of the magazine.
