Blu-Ray Disc Launch - on May 23!

[Ilya]

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Targets May 23 for Launch of First Blu-Ray Disc Titles
Press release - Monday February 27, 6:24 pm ET

Underworld Evolution Set for Day and Date Release With DVD - Variety of Content Will Be Available to Support Initial BD Products at Retail -

CULVER CITY, Calif., Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) is targeting May 23 to deliver the first wave of Blu-ray Disc (BD) titles at retail, it was announced today. Delivery will coincide with the launch that day of the first commercially available BD player from Samsung Electronics, which will be followed shortly by BD players from Pioneer and Sony along with a BD compatible VAIO PC from Sony.

SPHE and MGM Home Entertainment will first release eight BD titles, with another eight following shortly June 13. Benjamin S. Feingold, president, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, made the announcement.

The first Blu-ray Disc titles from SPHE and MGM Home Entertainment will include: 50 First Dates, The Fifth Element, Hitch, House of Flying Daggers, A Knight's Tale, The Last Waltz (MGM), Resident Evil Apocalypse and XXX.

BD titles streeting June 13 include: Kung Fu Hustle, Legends of the Fall, Robocop (MGM), Stealth, Species (MGM), SWAT and Terminator (MGM). Underworld Evolution will debut in early Summer day and date with the DVD.

"We are primed to ensure that a variety of Blu-ray Disc content is available at retail to support the introduction of the first BD players from Samsung Electronics and Pioneer, as well as the first BD player and compatible VAIO computer from Sony," said Mr. Feingold. "Sony Pictures further intends to provide additional titles to coincide with the launch of BD products from other manufacturers. We're thrilled that the Blu-ray Disc era is about to begin."

Outstanding CE products:

"As a charter member of the Blu-Ray Disc Association (BDA), Samsung Electronics is proud to introduce the first commercially available Blu-ray Disc player, BD-P1000, to Best Buy, Circuit City and electronic specialty store consumers on May 23," said Jim Sanduski, senior vice president of marketing for Samsung Electronics America. "We're extremely pleased to join Sony Pictures Home Entertainment in providing an outstanding high definition experience that features the next generation optical disc format."

"Pioneer is thrilled to offer the BDP-HD1, our first Blu-ray Disc player, which will allow consumers to purchase high definition content to watch in the comfort of their own homes," said Sam Ohdate, president of home entertainment for Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. "With exciting new titles like these being released by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and other studios, we're confident Blu-ray disc will become the next generation in home entertainment."

"Our BD enabled VAIO PCs incorporate the very best and latest technology to help consumers unleash their creativity and experience entertainment in new, exciting ways," said Mike Abary, vice president of VAIO product marketing in the U.S. "We're eagerly looking forward to having engaging Blu-ray content available that really takes advantage of the performance these PCs can achieve."

"The first Blu-ray Disc titles from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment mark a significant milestone in the BD revolution of home entertainment" said Philip Abram, vice president of marketing for Sony Electronics' Home Products Division. "We are excited about the upcoming launch of the BDP-S1 Blu-ray Disc player and with engaging content from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, consumers are in for a spectacular high-definition experience."

About Blu-ray Disc:

The Blu-ray Disc format provides nearly five times more data storage than DVD, with an unprecedented 25 GB (single-layer) and 50 GB (dual-layer) of capacity. Blu-ray Disc players are backward compatible with other disc formats and deliver the highest quality high-definition (HD) entertainment, while providing a secure playback environment through the use of the most advanced copy protection available.

Blu-ray Disc was created to support the accelerating convergence between consumer electronics and information technology. The platform can also support numerous film, music, computer and game applications. Sony Computer Entertainment recently announced plans to utilize BD-ROM technology in their next-generation PlayStation 3 system.

Blu-ray is supported by more than 170 leading hardware and software manufacturers, including the leading innovators in the CE and IT industries.

About Sony Pictures Home Entertainment:

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is a division of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. Sony Pictures Entertainment's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Information on Sony Pictures Entertainment and Blu-ray can be found on the World Wide Web at www.sonypictures.com/bluray.

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Source

 

[sclaws]

Thx for the news!!

 

[Ilya]

Lionsgate Embraces Blu-ray With First Titles Scheduled for May 23

Lionsgate Embraces Blu-ray With First 10 Titles Scheduled for Two-Part Rollout Beginning May 23

Oscar(R)-nominated CRASH Headlines List of Initial Releases That Include
LORD OF WAR, THE PUNISHER(TM), SAW, TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY, RESERVOIR
DOGS, TOTAL RECALL, STARGATE, FRANK HERBERT'S DUNE and THE DEVIL'S REJECTS

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lionsgate
(NYSE: LGF; Toronto), the leading independent filmed entertainment company,
today announced plans to release 10 titles on the next-generation
high-definition Blu-ray Disc (BD) to coincide with the arrival of the first
commercially offered BD players in stores. The first wave, available at
retail on May 23, will include CRASH and LORD OF WAR, priced at a $39.99 SRP,
and THE PUNISHER, SAW and TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY, marked at a $29.99 SRP.
The second wave with five additional titles will follow shortly thereafter
with a June/July date still to be determined. These BD titles include
RESERVOIR DOGS, TOTAL RECALL, STARGATE and FRANK HERBERT'S DUNE priced at
$29.99, while THE DEVIL'S REJECTS will be available at a $39.99 SRP. The
announcement was made by Lionsgate President Steve Beeks.

"There has never been a home entertainment experience available to mass
audiences like Blu-ray, and Lionsgate is pleased to be providing some of our
top-line product at launch for consumers to enjoy," said Beeks. "As a
company, we have always been at the forefront in utilizing technology to offer
consumers the best viewing experience. Watching a film in your living room is
about to radically change forever and we can't wait to maximize Blu-ray's
technological capabilities and see for ourselves how far we can take the home
movie-watching experience."

Lionsgate noted that Blu-ray is one of many digital technological advances
that are expected to create new revenue streams for existing library product
as well as new content. As studios usher in the age of high-definition DVD,
Lionsgate remains at the forefront of incorporating its use, and the Company
plans to follow this announcement with an additional wave of Blu-ray titles in
the coming months. Lionsgate will continue to make available new releases and
popular catalog titles from its prolific and prestigious library on the format
throughout 2006.

About Blu-ray Disc:
The Blu-ray Disc format provides nearly five times more data storage than
DVD, with an unprecedented 25 GB (single-layer) and 50 GB (dual-layer) of
capacity. Blu-ray Disc players are backward compatible with other disc
formats and deliver the highest quality high-definition (HD) entertainment,
while providing a secure playback environment through the use of the most
advanced copy protection available.
Blu-ray Disc was created to support the accelerating convergence between
consumer electronics and information technology. The platform can also
support numerous film, music, computer and game applications. Sony Computer
Entertainment recently announced plans to utilize BD-ROM technology in their
next-generation Playstation 3 system.
Blu-ray is supported by more than 170 leading hardware and software
manufacturers, including the leading innovators in the CE and IT industries.

About Lionsgate Home Entertainment:
Lionsgate is the premier independent producer and distributor of motion
pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment and
video-on-demand content. Its prestigious and prolific library is a valuable
source of stable, recurring revenue and is a foundation for the growth of the
Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate brand name is synonymous with
original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the globe.
http://www.lionsgate.com

 

[Ilya]

So, HD DVD release date is March 28 and Blu-ray Disc release date is May 23.
Mark your calendars!

 

[sclaws]

Done and done....now bring on the preorders, faithful online vendors!

 

[Jamey K]

Cost?

 

[Ilya]

Cost?

As mentioned above in the Lionsgate's press release, Blu-ray Discs will go for around $30-40. ($40 - for new releases). Which is the same as the HD DVD price.

As for the players, Sony has not announced its price yet. Samsung BD-P1000 was announced at CES at around $1000, though that price point was probably set before Toshiba surprised everyone with their $500 HD DVD player. I wonder if the Blu-ray Camp will try to respond by lowering that $1000 price level? We should know within the next few weeks. It's going to be an interesting fight to watch!

 

[Jamey K]

As for the players, Sony has not announced its price yet. Samsung BD-P1000 was announced at CES at around $1000, though that price point was probably set before Toshiba surprised everyone with their $500 HD DVD player. I wonder if the Blu-ray Camp will try to respond by lowering that $1000 price level? We should know within the next few weeks. It's going to be an interesting fight to watch!

It is indeed. $500 is one thing to try something new, but $1000? I hope you are right that pricing comes down.

 

[herdfan]

Beat the "other" site by 14 1/2 hours with the news.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=650582

 

[jayn_j]

It is indeed. $500 is one thing to try something new, but $1000? I hope you are right that pricing comes down.

It's just us wild and wacky early adopters

Hi, I'm Jay and I'm an early adopter. I once paid $785 for the first laserdisc player. Yes, the one where the gas! laser would overheat after 90 minutes.

Yes, I paid $1200 for the first HP laptop, the one with a non-standard OS that had a 16 line text only display.

Yes, I bought an Advent Front projector, an XBOX the first week, surround sound (the first time in the '70s - all 3 competing schemes!), etc, etc, sob-cetera.

<deep breath>

But I'm better now. I will wait for the format wars to shake out. I will NOT buy 2 new incompatible DVD players. I will not.

What were those dates again? I'll just look, I promise. :devil:

 

[herdfan]

Hi, I'm Jay and I'm an early adopter.

Sounds like we need a support group and a 12-step program.

I will get the Toshiba HD DVD (already pre-ordered) , but will wait for the PS3 for my BRD fix.

 

[Jamey K]

Hi, I'm Jay and I'm an early adopter. :

Hello Jay. I'm Jamey and I'm an early adopter. I paid $500 for my first CD player and $1000 for my first, top loading Quazar VCR, cord attached remote control. (which I still have and it still works!!).

I'm going with HD-DVD first. Nothing will be decided for another year. By that time, I expect the actors to appear in 3D holographic re-animation in my living room.