Four Hollywood Film Studios Announce Support For D-VHS D-Theater High Definition Video Format

Companies To Release Prerecorded Film Content On New Format

1-Feb-02

Four Hollywood film studios announced their intention to release feature films on the new high-definition D-VHS platform, the totally digital technology. The studios have opted to release their films on an optional system within the D-VHS format, called D-Theater. Created by JVC specifically for copyrighted, high value prerecorded content, D-Theater provides a state-of-the-art level of security demanded by content producers in the digital era. Artisan Entertainment, DreamWorks SKG, Twentieth Century Fox and Universal Studios are expected to release the first D-Theater titles in 2002. The support of these major content providers marks the next phase in the acceptance of high-definition as the new standard for home entertainment and television viewing.""The D-VHS format offers superior picture quality to any other format in existence today and the solid copyright protection technology built into the D-Theater system makes the format extremely attractive to us as content providers,"" said Patricia Wyatt, President, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. ""Nothing else can reproduce the visual impact of film and we anticipate that true film enthusiasts will adopt D-Theater now that high-def prerecorded content will be available.""D-VHS D-Theater software will be recorded in the HS mode at the 28 Mbps (Megabits per second) data rate, surpassing even the 19 Mbps ATSC standard for HDTV broadcasts. D-VHS' enormous 44 GB capacity per cassette makes it possible for software content providers to fit an entire feature-length HDTV movie on a single cassette. In addition, the D-Theater system ensures the protection of copyrighted digital content through a proprietary security system designed by JVC.""As the only hi-def format in existence, the D-Theater option allows us to offer movie fans an unprecedented home theatre experience,"" said Kelley Avery, Worldwide Head of DreamWorks Home Entertainment. ""This format offers the most pristine viewing quality to the increasing number of households with high-def systems.""A D-VHS cassette has the maximum capacity to record and play back four hours of high-definition television or more than 50 hours of standard-definition television. JVC's high-definition recorder also gives consumers the flexibility to record and play back in analog VHS, Super VHS, Super VHS ET and digital D-VHS formats (HS, STD and LS3).""It has always been our goal to provide consumers with the option to obtain the best picture quality in which to view our products, and the D-VHS D-Theater platform offers just that,"" said Steve Beeks, President, Artisan Entertainment. ""This idea, combined with the ability to record high-definition television and the option to view standard cassettes from a consumer's existing home library, makes this product very attractive.""While the introduction of the D-VHS format follows the relatively recent launch of DVD, the launching studios view the two as offering unique benefits to the consumer. ""D-VHS is in a unique class different from DVD. This meets the videophiles' highest quality expectations for an in-home experience,"" said Craig Kornblau, President, Universal Studios Home Video. ""JVC's D-VHS D-Theater video recorder will allow consumers to play high-def content which clearly differentiates it from a DVD player. It is the only high-def option.""For more information about D-VHS D-Theater, visit www.dvhsmovie.com.

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