As was expected.
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http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/20 ... -by-friday
Geneon USA to Cancel DVD Sales, Distribution by Friday
posted on 2007-09-26
Only taking orders for in-stock items, new releases dated November 6 or earlier
The onetime anime distribution company Geneon Entertainment (USA) Inc. has notified its retail customers that it will cease "the sales of DVDs and all related distribution and marketing operations as of 5 p.m. on Friday, September 28, 2007." The deadline for ordering all Geneon USA products is that time and date, and only orders for "catalog products in inventory or new releases with a street date" of November 6 or earlier will be accepted. Any outstanding retail orders will ship as soon as stock is available. No more returns will be accepted after 5:00 p.m. on November 30, and new orders after September 21 cannot be returned at all. The letter to retailers also says that "payables to Geneon remain unchanged."
[lightbox]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a223/mappythemouse/geneonpr-1.jpg[/lightbox]
The letter does not address the issue of the future availability of titles, nor does it discuss Geneon USA's future production plans.
The Geneon USA letter to retailer cites the termination of the proposed sales and distribution alliance with A.D. Vision, Inc. as the reason for the changes. Geneon USA had laid off much of its own sales and marketing teams earlier this month. Geneon USA's parent company, the Japanese advertising firm Dentsu Inc., said that "from October 1, 2007, Geneon USA will focus mainly on management of its works portfolio."
Retailer letter image courtesy of AnimeonDVD.com
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http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/20 ... ail-center
Bandai Visual USA Makes Website 'Interim Retail Center'
posted on 2007-09-27
Following Geneon USA's decision to cease all sales and distribution activities, Bandai Visual USA has announced that its new and existing releases will be sold primarily through the company's dot-anime.us website. Until now, Bandai Visual's releases have been distributed in the US by Geneon. Bandai Visual USA is also working to develop an alternative arrangement for distribution to retailers, but until that is confirmed, product supply to both brick-and-mortar and online stores is likely to be delayed.
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This effects titles such as Black Lagoon, Hellsing Ultimate, Fate/Stay Night, Karin, Higurashi, Shakugan no Shana, Koi Kaze, Lyrical Nanoha, Rozen Maiden, Saiunkoku Monogatari, Seirei no Moribito, Shounen Onmyouji and Kyou Kara Maou.