Blu-ray Disc Expands High Definition Home Entertainment Options For Viewers

First Wave of Blu-ray Disc Players and Movies Reach Consumers With Even More Products Scheduled for Fall Release

August 30, 2006

U.S. consumers can now satisfy high definition appetites as the first wave of Blu-ray Disc products have arrived in stores. This year will mark consumers' initial access to a broad selection of high definition products from 20 companies, including players, computer drives, recordable media, PC applications and more than 100 movie and music titles. "From the beginning, Blu-ray Disc has been committed to delivering the very best consumer experience across multiple home entertainment platforms, and enables the finest high definition visual and sound experience, the highest computer data storage capacity, and the most sophisticated gaming and interactive capabilities," said Andy Parsons, senior vice president of new product development, Pioneer Electronics and U.S. promotions committee chair, Blu-ray Disc Group. "With more and more companies announcing a broad range of Blu-ray Disc hardware and software, it is becoming increasingly clear that Blu-ray Disc has an overwhelming advantage." Blu-ray Disc products are now available in the U.S., including blank media from Fuji Film, Memorex, Sony, TDK and Verbatim; computer writers from Pioneer and Sony; Samsung's Blu-ray Disc video player, the BDP-1000; and more than 20 movie titles from Sony Pictures, MGM and Lionsgate. Sony Pictures, Lionsgate and MGM titles include: Crash, The Fifth Element, 50 First Dates, Hitch, House of Flying Daggers, The Last Waltz, Lord of War, The Punisher, RV, Saw, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Underworld: Evolution and XXX. Consumers in the U.S can expect to see additional Blu-ray Disc product on retail shelves this fall. Thus far, BenQ, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer and Sony have announced hardware products for release this fall, and Disney, Lionsgate, MGM, Paramount, Sony Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Brothers, Sony BMG and Eagle Rock Entertainment will deliver nearly 100 movie and music titles before the end of the year. A list of the available and announced hardware products and movie and music titles is attached. About Blu-ray Disc Blu-ray Disc is the next-generation optical disc format being developed for high-definition video and high-capacity software applications. A single-layer Blu-ray Disc will hold up to 25 gigabytes of data and a double-layer Blu-ray Disc will hold up to 50 gigabytes of data. About the Blu-ray Disc Association The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) is responsible for promoting and further developing business opportunities for Blu-ray Disc - the next-generation optical disc for storing high-definition movies, games, photos and other digital content. The BDA has more than 180 members. Its Board of Directors consists of Apple; Dell Inc.; HP; Hitachi, Ltd.; LG Electronics Inc.; Mitsubishi Electric Corporation; Panasonic (Matsushita Electric); Pioneer Corporation; Royal Philips Electronics; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; Sharp Corporation; Sony Corporation; TDK Corporation; Thomson; Twentieth Century Fox; Walt Disney Pictures and Television; Warner Bros. Entertainment. Content* Studio Titles Release Date Buena Vista Home Entertainment Kill Bill: Vol. 1; Hero; Dark Water; Ladder 49; The Brothers Grimm; The Great Raid; Armageddon; Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back; Dinosaur; Everest TBD 2006 Eagle Rock Entertainment 20 music titles from artists including George Benson; Usher; the Black Crowes; Miles Davis; and the Pixies TBD 2006 Lionsgate Crash; Lord of War June 27 The Punisher; Saw; and Terminator 2: Judgment Day Reservoir Dogs; Total Recall; Stargate; and Frank Herbert’s Dune June/July TBD The Devil’s Rejects MGM The Terminator June 20 The Last Waltz July 25 Paramount Home Entertainment Four Brother; Sahara; Aeon Flux; Sky Captain & the World of Tomorrow; The Italian Job; Tomb Raider; U2: Rattle and Hum; Sleepy Hollow; We Were Soldiers; Manchurian Candidate; Mission Impossible; Mission Impossible 2; Mission Impossible 3. TBD 2006 Sony BMG John Legend, Live at the House of Blues October 3, 2006 Destiny’s Child, Live in Atlanta November 2006 Rod Stewart -- Live at Royal Albert Hall 2007 Sony Pictures 50 First Dates; The Fifth Element; Hitch; House of Flying Daggers; XXX; Underworld Evolution June 20 Ultraviolet June 27 Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addition July 11 The Benchwarmers; Stealth; Species; The Last Waltz July 25 RV; Into the Blue (2005); Memento; RoboCop August 15 Silent Hill August 22 Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment 20 titles, including: Fantastic Four; The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen; Behind Enemy Lines; Kiss of the Dragon; Ice Age TBD 2006 Warner Bros. Training Day; Good Night and Good Luck; Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang; Rumor Has It August 1 Lethal Weapon; Syriana; Full Metal Jacket; Firewall September 5 Movie titles for release in Japan only Angel Seekers, from Air TBS: New Cinema Paradise, from Asmik Ace Entertainment, Inc. Steamboy, from Bandai Visual Company, LTD. TBD 2006 Hardware – BD Players Company Product Release Date BenQ BW1000 Burner August Hitachi Blu-ray camcorder 2H2007 LG Electronics GBW-H10N TBD 2006 Panasonic DMP-BD10 September 2006 Philips BDP 9000 September 2006 Pioneer BDP-HD1 player September 2006 Plextor PX-B900A burner September/October Samsung BDP-1000 player June 25 Sony BDP-S1 October 2006 Hardware – Computers and BD Drives Company Product Release Date Panasonic LF-MB121JD June 10 (Japan) Philips SPD7000 BD Burner 2H2006 Pioneer BDR-101A BD Burner May 17 Sony VAIO(R) AR Premium notebook PC June 20 , 2006 VAIO RC desktop PC BWU-100A BD burner Launched in August 2006 Gaming Product Launch Date Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) PlayStation 3 November 17, 2006 (U.S.) Blank Media Company Product Release Date Fuji Film 25GB BD-R (write once) June 2006 25GB BD-RE (rewritable) Imation 25GB BD-R (write once) 2006 25GB BD-RE (rewritable) 50GB BD-R (write once) 50GB BD-RE (rewritable) Maxell BD R & BD-RE TBD Memorex Recordable (BD-R) June 21 Rewritable (BD-RE) Panasonic LM-BR25DE 25GB (write once) TBD 2006 LM-BE25DE 25GB (rewritable) LM-BR50DE 50GB (write once) LM-BE50DE 50GB (rewritable) Philips 25GB BD-R (write once) TBD 2006 25GB BD-R (rewritable) 50GB BD-R (write once) 50GB BD-RE(rewritable) Sony 25GB BD-R (write once) May 2006 25GB BD-R (rewritable) 50GB BD-R (write once) August 16 50GB BD-RE(rewritable) Late 2006 TDK 25GB BD-R (write once) April 2006 25GB BD-RE (rewritable) 50GB BD-R (write once) Q3/Q4 2006 50GB BD-RE (rewritable) 25GB BD-R Thermal Printable (write once) Q1 2007 25GB BD-R Inkjet Printable (write once) 50GB BD-R Thermal Printable (write once) 50GB BD-R Inkjet Printable (write once) Verbatim 25GB BD-R (write once) July 2006 25GB BD-RE (rewritable) *Information accurate as of August 28, 2006

Read More: