News

Blu-ray Disc Ushers in New Era of Entertainment (26/1/2006)

U.S. Consumers Can Satisfy High Definition Appetites in 2006

The Blu-ray Disc Association formally kicks off a new era of entertainment today as more than 20 companies announce Blu-ray Disc products, including players, recorders, high definition computer drives, recordable media and PC applications, as well as over 100 movie and music titles.

"Due to the unparalleled support of Blu-ray Disc, we will be able to offer movies, music and games as well as an unmatched array of product that will provide consumers with a dramatic new home entertainment experience," said Victor Matsuda, global chairman, Blu-ray Disc Association Promotions Committee. "With Blu-ray Disc, the bar has now been raised for the home viewing experience."

Blu-ray Disc provides consumers and content providers with a single common format that has the capacity, image and audio quality, interactivity and connectivity needed to expand beyond the simple movie playback and into a range of interoperable consumer products and applications that will bring a new dimension to home entertainment.

"Today's announcements are a clear demonstration of the overwhelming cross-industry support for the Blu-ray Disc format," said Howard Stringer, Chairman and CEO of Sony Corporation. "A majority of the CE, IT, Hollywood studios, music and game companies have already endorsed Blu-ray Disc because of its technical superiority and its ability to provide an entirely new experience to consumers. We are thrilled to announce that we are now ready for consumers to experience Blu-ray Disc for themselves."

Consumers in the U.S can expect to see Blu-ray Disc product on retail shelves beginning in the first quarter of 2006, with additional products and titles expected over the course of the year. For a list of companies that have announced Blu-ray Disc products, and for a look at the first wave of Blu-ray Disc movie and music titles, please see the attached.

"With the rapid growth in high-definition TV, blue-laser technology is an important step forward in creating an unparalleled consumer entertainment experience," said IDC's Joshua Martin, associate analyst, consumer markets. "The winning format will offer consumers breadth of product and depth of content at competitive price points."

"We believe that Blu-Ray Disc will give our customers a revolutionary new home entertainment experience that goes beyond high definition in every sense. With Blu-ray Disc, consumers will have access to life-like picture and sound, rich interactivity and interoperability across all their devices, from PCs to TVs to set-top players and recorders," said Michael Dell, Chairman of Dell Inc.

Players & Recorders
LG Electronics, Panasonic, Pioneer, Royal Philips Electronics, Sony Electronics, Samsung

Computer Drives
Panasonic, Pioneer, Royal Philips Electronics, Sony Electronics

Blu-ray Disc Media
Sony DADC, TDK, Verbatim/MKM

PC Applications
interVideo, Nero, New Tech Infosystems, Inc., Sonic

www.blu-raydisc.com