KM Studios Stop DVD Distribution

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - Keith Manheim Studios has opted to "go green" by pulling out of DVD distribution.

"Over the past two years there's been a surge in online digital distribution, while there's been a steady decline in physical DVD sales," said KM Studios owner Keith Manheim. "We're in a unique position to capture that upswing while leading the effort to become more eco-conscious. We have decided to go digital; that way we can better serve our customer, and we at KM Studios believe that digital distribution is the way to go. This is also a great way to help the environment.

"Now that we've gone all-digital, we can get our products out faster and in a more efficient way and at the same time serve the needs of the consumer while being mindful of our carbon footprint," he added.

The studio henceforward will deliver its product in two ways: via an exclusive contract with a video-on-demand provider, and on its pay site, where customers can download and own all KM Studios releases in digital rights management-free video format. The download formats include MPEG4 H.264 (which easily transfers to iPod and AppleTV) and Windows Media. All downloads are encoded for full DVD quality, Manheim said.

Users who do not wish to download the content can view it on the pay site in either Flash video or via a Windows Media stream.

"By cutting down on packaging, we're ensuring a continued move toward sustainability and a better future," Manheim said. "This decision meets the service needs of customers in the most effective way possible. Consumers demand good-quality, affordable content, and research [has shown] that the majority of Internet users now have access to high-speed broadband. Consumer trends have made this decision easy."

KM Studios is a division of KM Studios UIA International Inc., a New Zealand company that has served the gay market since 1997. The studio has produced gay adult movies since early 2002; it has produced eight titles since January 2005.

The company also offers a webmaster affiliate program, KM Bucks, which pays a 70% revshare.