Here's my take of it. Note that i am not an insider, just someone who is following the DVD market for around a year or so...
Not all Astro (or O, Odyssey, MusicOne, etc) can stock all the available titles because:
1. Not enough display space, that's why stores such as Astro Podium has a bigger selection than smaller stores.
2. Not all stores carry them on consignment, that's mean unsold titles will have to be paid, so some stores are wary of carrying lesser known titles.
3. The distributor has run out of stock of some titles, so what's left is what's available at retailers. So one store might have a certain title that's out of stock at another.
That's where PinoyDVD.biz has been a big help, for obscure titles that's hard-to-find at retail stores, chances are it is available at pinoyDVD.biz provided it is still in print, and provided it is Warner. Magnavision's stocks with PinoyDVD is also quite extensive save for those released in the last 3 or so months (that may change soon according to firewired, as per the PinoyDVD.biz thread).
The Pjhilippine legit DVD market is not as big as most Distros like, so they selectively release what title they seen as probable sellers. Like it or not, the Philippine video market is still dominated by VCDs. Distributor like Warner which has previously released a big selection of new and classic DVD has slowed down, and is now just releasing 2-3 big titles a month plus a lot of Tv series. Their previous effort at releasing older titles might not have been as successful for them not to continue doing so. Now many Warner titles get VCD releases but not DVD too...
Still, Magnavision is still releasing the most titles locally, that's why despite their pricing being the most onerous (on new releases), I no longer complain....ooops.
And distro get to choose which titles they deem as pontential blockbusters, and like it or not, horror sells or it seems, as Viva like to release them..while titles like The Illusionist, Little Miss sunshine...get delayed or not released at all.
I also noticed that most local distributions mirror the R2 UK releases... so the release dates for that region is more in sync with local releases... especially Magnavision titles.
Sometimes, a title just jump out of nowhere to preempt the US release too... that's the studio choice, (ie if they see a pirated version out already, they may release early). memorable titles that come out earlier here include Da Vinci Code, Casino Royale, and Spiderman 2.1
I also am waiting for The Pursuit of Happyness... but sooner or later,it will be released, since it's Sony Pictures/Magnavision title.
How I wished too that each and every R1 title get released here, but that's wishful thinking perhaps, for now. When Hi-Def takes over, and DVD becomes as cheap and common place as VCDs now, maybe that's the time we get most R1 DVDs... but of course by then, us videophiles would not like them and complain that most High-Def discs did not get released here.
The neverending cycle continues...
