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DVD Video Group Expands Interests As DVD Entertainment Group
Executives of the home video units of the major film studios and music companies joined with representatives of the consumer electronics industry to announce that the DVD Video Group ñ a three-year-old trade association charged to promote the DVD-Video format ñ will expand to promote the new DVD-Audio format and change its name to the DVD Entertainment Group. As part of this effort, the five major music companies declared their support and participation in the newly formed coalition, in order to pave the way for DVD-Audio that is expected to launch later this year. ""This announcement is great news for retailers and consumers,"" said Emiel N. Petrone, Chairman, DVD Entertainment Group and Executive Vice President ñ Worldwide, Philips Entertainment Group. ""The DVD platform is poised to provide a variety of extraordinary entertainment experiences. We look forward to bringing together the leading executives of home video, music and electronics to promote all of these new possibilities."" The re-chartered group will continue to communicate the benefits of DVD-Video, including DVD movies, music videos and other forms of home video entertainment through a variety of consumer and trade educational initiatives and collateral efforts. Part of the groupís new effort will be aimed at supporting the launch of DVD-Audio that is expected later this year. The new DVD-Audio format is the result of extensive collaboration between the music industry and the DVD Forum. DVD-Audio offers many advantages including high resolution, uncompressed digital sound; choice of stereo and multi-channel surround capability; as well as value added features and internet-linking capabilities. As the year progresses, the group plans to produce a variety of information pieces for consumer, trade and media use, and will make regular announcements addressing the latest news about consumer behavior related to DVD hardware, movies, music videos and music albums. The music companies that have joined the DVD Entertainment Group are BMG entertainment, EMI Recorded Music, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group. The music companies will join the existing 21 regular members and the 14 associate members.