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Sony sets home entertainment release date

Positioning "This Is It" as the first big homevid title of 2010, SPHE said the DVD and Blu-ray discs will offer a fuller experience than the theatrical cut, which has already drawn more than $70 million in U.S. box office. The standard DVD ($28.96) will contain an hour of extra footage, and the Blu-ray version ($39.95) will hold an additional hour and a half of material.

Exclusive to the Blu-ray version is a "Smooth Criminal" vignette that was originally intended to screen prior to Jackson's planned London concerts. There is also the featurette "Making Smooth Criminal," as well as Sony Web-enabled feature movieIQ.

"We're thrilled with the date that we ended up with, where it's at an opportune time in the market," said Marc Rashba, Sony's VP of worldwide marketing. "The Grammys follow right after the release date (on Jan. 31). There will be a lot of Grammy areas in stores, and we can play into that."

Retailers are also expected to push "This Is It" pre-orders during this heavy fourth-quarter shopping period.

Both standard DVD and Blu-ray editions, carrying a Dec. 24 pre-order date, include two making-of documentaries. The two formats also hold three featurettes, covering costuming, memories of Jackson and auditions of the concert dancers.

To further boost the title's appeal, Sony will attach different collectible components at various retailers.

"We're looking at new channels of distribution, and working with digital partners," Rashba said.