Windows Media 9 Series Powers 16 New High-Definition Movies Including 10 IMAX Titles From MacGillivray Freeman Films, Artisan Home Entertainment, National Geographic, and More 

29-Jan-04

Microsoft Corp. announced that 16 feature films are being released as high-definition movies on DVD discs by a variety of publishers using the high-definition video capabilities of MicrosoftÆ Windows Media 9 Series (WMV HD). The 16 titles include 10 IMAX movies from MacGillivray Freeman Films Inc., and movies from Artisan Home Entertainment Inc., National Geographic, Luc Besson, and more. The movies will be available at retail in two-disc DVD sets that contain both the movie in standard definition for playback on any DVD player and a companion DVD disc that contains the entire feature film in high-definition video and 5.1-channel surround sound using WMV HD, for playback on a Windows XP-based PC. In addition, leading companies today signaled they have products or services available for content owners to author, produce, and/or secure additional titles using WMV HD DVD discs.With video resolution of up to 1080p (approximately six times the resolution of today's DVD video), the WMV HD titles provide a visually stunning experience on Windows XP-based PCs, including PCs powered by the new Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 operating system. The first disc available is MacGillivray Freeman's ""Coral Reef Adventure,"" a two-DVD set, originally created for exhibition in IMAX theaters. ìTwenty-five years ago, MacGillivray Freeman Films became a pioneer in producing giant-screen theater films that deliver the largest, most pristine images ever displayed,î said Bill Bennett, President of Distribution at MacGillivray Freeman Films. ìConsumers continue to demand premium content, and today with the WMV HD release of Coral Reef Adventure, we are proud to be a leader in providing the ultimate high-definition surround-sound experience for home theaters.îìWMV HD has given us the ability to provide dual formats of the same titles on one disc, so that viewers can enjoy the film in standard format on their television screens, and experience the film in high-definition quality on their PCs,î said Matthew White, Vice President for National Geographic Television & Film. ìThis new technology gives us an ideal showcase for our amazing array of award-winning footage, as it brings viewers closer to the underwater depths in Treasure Seekers, allows them to tag along with famed oceanographer Bob Ballard in The Search for Kennedy's PT 109, and journey along with intrepid explorers Lewis and Clark on their Great Journey West. We're excited to be a part of this opportunity and to work with Microsoft to bring these technologically advanced DVDs to the customer.î ìWMV HD means you're bringing home the best in audio and video quality, seeing movies how they were meant to be seen, whether your Windows XP-based PC is in your study or connected to a high-definition home theater in your living room,î said Dave Fester, General Manager of the Windows Digital Media Division at Microsoft. To enjoy content in WMV HD, consumers can use any Windows XP, or Windows XP Media Center Edition-based PC, with a 2.4 GHz Pentium 4 or better processor and a display or projector with a resolution of at least 1024 x 768. For more information please visit www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia.

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