Universal Studios DVD Output Internationally To Be Distributed By Columbia TriStar

Colubmia TriStar Home Video has agreed to distribute all Universal Studios Home Video DVD titles outside North America.Columbia TriStar, which began releasing DVD product in Europe, Latin America and Asia last April, and Warner Home Video have been the two primary proponents of the DVD platform overseas and domestically. Warner distributes DVD titles from Disney and MGM internationally. Columbia TriStar and Warner distribute the pre-DVD platform called Video CD (VCD) internationally, which is primarily used in China.Overseas markets are rapidly developing digital TV services via satellite, cable and broadcast and DVD in those markets has not become the success that the format has enjoyed in the U.S. To be successful a commitment from all the studios needs to come soon. DVD proponents fear that the picture and audio quality of digital TV will cause consumers to become dissatisfied with VHS quality. Without a packaged digital format to offer as a VHS alternative they fear consumers will purchase less product.According to a survey by Screen Digest magazine, 1.4 million DVD titles were sold in the European market in 1998, and it is estimated that 15 million discs will be sold in the year 2000. Over 400 DVD software titles were available in 1998 across Europe. The number of DVD-Video players in European homes reach 125,000 by the end of 1998 and that number is expected to increase to 485,000 in 1999 and just over one million in 2000.