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'Harry Potter' Book Premieres in London Tonight
Aired June 20, 2003 - 14:53 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: It's the witching hour in New Delhi, India, where copies of what could be the most anticipated book in history have just gone on sale. "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" is flying off the shelves on wings of gold and muggle madness is just getting under way. CNN's Richard Quest riding the Hogwarts express in London for us -- Richard.
RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, it's enough to make (UNINTELLIGIBLE) bank ring with the money. The galleons will be pouring in here in London. We are about four hours from the launch of "Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix," the 870-page behemoth that will be launched in Britain in just a few hours' time. And already one of London's top book bookstores, Waterstones (ph) here, they have been queuing for several hours, over the -- what time did you get here?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
QUEST: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). You will have been here about eight or nine hours when you get your book.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
QUEST: But they don't seem to mind too much. In fact, the pizza that they have been eating has been disappearing with magical speed.
Kyra, the importance of this book to the publishing world is really quite enormous. Some 13 million copies have been printed and distributed worldwide. And as you can see from this particular window, the absolute hype and hyperbole for "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" is something quite extraordinary.
For the author, J.K. Rowling, there will be about $15 million from this book alone. And that will go to the half a billion she's already got. And the final point for the moment, Kyra, Harry Potter is ruling the waves over here. That other book that you have made so much about in the United States, Hillary Clinton, somewhere over there at another bookstore, you can just about see that being publicized. Harry rules tonight, I'm afraid.
PHILLIPS: Richard, all right, now, sources tell me that during the break you were thumbing through the book, is that true? Were you getting a little sneak peek there?
QUEST: Absolutely not. I was brushing up on my muggles and my Hermiones. I was trying to find whether Hagrid -- and who did what, with (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Because I was reading "The Goblet of Fire." No, the truth is, there are hundreds, if not thousands of books in this store of "The Order of the Phoenix" and we have not been allowed to see any of them. Nor will we be allowed to until midnight. So if you're going to ask me, as everybody is, which is the major character that is killed off in the "Order of the Phoenix," even if I knew I wouldn't tell you, and I have no idea.
PHILLIPS: You should be doing publicity for this book. Now, I have to ask you, are you going to read Hillary's book or Harry Potter book?
QUEST: All right. I'm up to about to 56, page 56 in Hillary's book and I haven't gotten terribly excited. I guarantee you by Tuesday I will be up to 876 of J.K. Rowling's book.
PHILLIPS: Richard Quest, always a pleasure. Thank you so much.
QUEST: Thanks, Kyra. Thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired June 20, 2003 - 14:53 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: It's the witching hour in New Delhi, India, where copies of what could be the most anticipated book in history have just gone on sale. "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" is flying off the shelves on wings of gold and muggle madness is just getting under way. CNN's Richard Quest riding the Hogwarts express in London for us -- Richard.
RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, it's enough to make (UNINTELLIGIBLE) bank ring with the money. The galleons will be pouring in here in London. We are about four hours from the launch of "Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix," the 870-page behemoth that will be launched in Britain in just a few hours' time. And already one of London's top book bookstores, Waterstones (ph) here, they have been queuing for several hours, over the -- what time did you get here?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
QUEST: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). You will have been here about eight or nine hours when you get your book.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
QUEST: But they don't seem to mind too much. In fact, the pizza that they have been eating has been disappearing with magical speed.
Kyra, the importance of this book to the publishing world is really quite enormous. Some 13 million copies have been printed and distributed worldwide. And as you can see from this particular window, the absolute hype and hyperbole for "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" is something quite extraordinary.
For the author, J.K. Rowling, there will be about $15 million from this book alone. And that will go to the half a billion she's already got. And the final point for the moment, Kyra, Harry Potter is ruling the waves over here. That other book that you have made so much about in the United States, Hillary Clinton, somewhere over there at another bookstore, you can just about see that being publicized. Harry rules tonight, I'm afraid.
PHILLIPS: Richard, all right, now, sources tell me that during the break you were thumbing through the book, is that true? Were you getting a little sneak peek there?
QUEST: Absolutely not. I was brushing up on my muggles and my Hermiones. I was trying to find whether Hagrid -- and who did what, with (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Because I was reading "The Goblet of Fire." No, the truth is, there are hundreds, if not thousands of books in this store of "The Order of the Phoenix" and we have not been allowed to see any of them. Nor will we be allowed to until midnight. So if you're going to ask me, as everybody is, which is the major character that is killed off in the "Order of the Phoenix," even if I knew I wouldn't tell you, and I have no idea.
PHILLIPS: You should be doing publicity for this book. Now, I have to ask you, are you going to read Hillary's book or Harry Potter book?
QUEST: All right. I'm up to about to 56, page 56 in Hillary's book and I haven't gotten terribly excited. I guarantee you by Tuesday I will be up to 876 of J.K. Rowling's book.
PHILLIPS: Richard Quest, always a pleasure. Thank you so much.
QUEST: Thanks, Kyra. Thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
