REPORTERS Notebook

Supplier News—Paramount Home Entertainment has set Oct. 16 as the release date for “Transformers,” the live-action summer film that earned more than $650 million in theaters worldwide. Paramount also will release the hit film on the HD-DVD format the same day.

Also due out in stores in time for the holidays is the fourth film in the long-running “Die Hard” franchise. “Live Free or Die Hard” is due out from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment two days before Thanksgiving on Nov. 20. The surprise summer hit will be priced at $29.98 SRP and also will be released the same day on Blu-Ray high definition DVD.

Proctor & Gamble announced that Gain has become the company’s 23rd brand to break the $1 billion mark in sales. The laundry detergent brand, sold only in North America, is the company’s eighth-largest brand in the United States with sales driven primarily by ethnic consumers.

“We work hard to understand our Gain consumers and work even harder to deliver the amazing scent experience they find in Gain,” said Kevin Burke, P&G laundry marketing director. “That’s the secret to Gain’s remarkable growth.” Gain debuted in 1969 and is currently P&G’s fastest-growing brand among African-Americans.

American Greetings has appointed Jeffrey Dunn to its board of directors where he’ll fill a vacancy for a term set to expire in 2008. Dunn most recently served as president of Nickelodeon Film Enterprises and as chief operating officer of Nickelodeon Networks Group.

“We are delighted to have Jeff join us,” said chief executive officer Zev Weiss. “American Greetings will benefit from his business acumen and expertise, particularly with regard to digital content and licensing.” Dunn graduated from Harvard and went on to earn an MBA from Harvard Business School.