Three National Retailers Announce Support Of New High-Definition, D-VHSÆ Patform

Best Buy, Circuit City And Sears To Carry JVCíS HM-DH30000U D-VHSì VCR With D-Theaterë EncryptionJVC To Provide Expansive National Marketing Campaign In Conjunction With Retailer Launch

26-Sep-02

Best Buy, Circuit City, and Sears, top-tier national retailers, will all begin carrying the high-definition JVC D-VHSÆ VCR, featuring playback of hi-def D-Theaterô software, it was announced from todayís CEDIA trade show.D-VHS plays a significant role in the growth of HDTV by providing the only high-definition record/playback solution available in the consumer marketplace, and D-Theater playback capability offers the increasing number of consumers with high-definition televisions the first-ever prerecorded 1080i HD movies. The D-VHS format is specifically designed to digitally record ATSC broadcast content including ever-increasing high-definition broadcasts and JVCís D-VHS VCR featuring D-Theater is supported by four major Hollywood studios: Twentieth Century Fox, Universal Studios, Artisan Entertainment, and DreamWorks SKG. All four studios began releasing D-VHS titles in the D-Theater format from June 2002, with high-profile films including ìGalaxy Quest,î ìU-571,î ìTerminator 2: Judgment Day,î and ìIndependence Dayî A complete listing of titles currently available in the D-Theater format is available at DVHSMovieGuide.com. All the titles can be purchased on this site as well.""We are pleased to see national distribution for a product and platform that we already strongly support,"" said Pat Wyatt, President, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. ""Pre-recorded high-definition entertainment is in great demand, and by virtue of its performance deserves this level of retail support.""""The increasing availability of the D-Theater platform and D-VHS titles is great news for both consumers and filmmakers,"" said Steve Beeks, President, Artisan Home Entertainment. ""Consumers have become more and more savvy in what they expect from films and filmmakers always want audiences to see their creations in the way they were truly meant to be seen. This new technology is the only way consumers currently can watch pre-recorded entertainment in high-definition, and is a huge step in the right direction.""""We are very excited that retail support for JVC's D-Theater system continues to grow,"" said Kelly Sooter, domestic head of DreamWorks Home Entertainment. ""The expanded presence of D-VHS VCRs will help satisfy the growing consumer demand for hi-def content and further drive overall consumer awareness of the platform.""By early October, all Best Buy and Circuit City stores and approximately 600 Sears retail locations will stock JVC D-VHS units. Suggested retail price for JVCís HM-DH30000U VCR is $1,299.95. Already distributed by regional and specialty retailers, select Circuit City locations and online at BestBuy.com and CircuitCity.com, JVCís HM-DH30000U has been enthusiastically received by consumers, who are eager for a high-definition record/playback solution. The addition of three major national retailers putting this product on shelves helps to strengthen the already enthusiastic market for this new high-definition video platform.""D-VHS VCRs with D-Theater are setting the bar for HD video performance. At a 28.2 Mbps data rate there is simply no better source to display on a HDTV,"" said Jerry Barbera, Vice President, Consumer Video Division, JVC Company of America.""Circuit City has a well-established, industry-leading digital product offering,"" said Rick Souder, Vice President and General Merchandise Manager, Circuit City. ""While weíve carried JVC D-VHS VCRs in select locations for more than a year, adding the product to all of our store shelves further enhances our excellent selection and we believe our customers will be excited, as always, to find this cutting-edge technology in our stores. In addition, customers will be able to purchase D-VHS movie titles on our web site at CircuitCity.com.""JVC is supporting the HM-DH-30000U with a national print campaign that focuses on D-Theater playback capability as well as through regional promotions including direct mailing to HDTV owners. Consumers who purchase the unit and register by mail will receive, while supplies last, D-Theater concert videos from the bands Yes and M?tley Cr¸e.The D-Theaterë prerecorded software system ensures the encryption of copyrighted digital content. Studios interested in the best security available for prerecorded content on D-VHS are welcome to adopt the D-Theater technology. Such content will be playable only on D-VHS machines bearing the D-Theater logo.

Read More:
http://onlinepressroom.net/bestbuy
http://www.CircuitCity.com
http://www.sears.com