Games retailers turn to film for sales boost

UK games retailers are missing a trick by not stocking DVD and Blu-rays, Koch has told MCV.

The firm’s words come as GAME and Gamestation announced that it will be selling Blu-ray movies alongside PS3 hardware in around 300 of its stores.

DVDs are much more mass market than games, and thus the more outlets that sell DVDs, the more DVDs will sell,” said Koch Media UK MD Craig McNicol.

It does not cannibalise in the way that games do and the opportunity for specialist games retailers is clear – add-on sales of entertainment product whilst the more considered purchase of the video game is mused over in-store. The synergies are obvious for distribution and games retailers.”

As a complement to its core games business, Koch sells and distributes DVDs in the UK, Germany and Italy. It had a Top Ten hit with Super in August, and there are a number of major products on the way, such as Will Ferrell flick Everything Must Go and Jessie Eisenberg movie Holy Rollers.

Our message to the trade is support both categories as the business processes associated with each are so similar. And in Koch you have an existing partner to help you.”

GAME head of PR Neil Ashurst added: The PS3 is now under 200 and for that price gamers are getting a great Blu-ray player as well as one of the best consoles out there. We know gamers want to make the most of their console and use all its available functions.”