Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, MGM Home Entertainment and Samsung announced today that the Blu-ray Disc high-definition optical disc format will launch in the U.S. on May 23 when the first player and movies would become available.
Issues :
The launch of players for Blu-ray Disc and the competing HD-DVD format have been delayed by protracted talks regarding the content protection system that is common to both formats. While discussions have yet to be completed, an interim agreement was finalized last week that allows companies to begin production of hardware.
Samsung 'First out of the block' :
Samsung Electronics will be the first to launch its Blu-ray Disc player BD-P1000 and will be available from May 23 at Best Buy, Circuit City, and specialist retailers, the company said in a statement.
No price for the player was given, but At CES Samsung said it plans to sell the machine for around $1000.
Similar machines from Sony and Pioneer, Pioneer's BDP-HD1 and a Sony Vaio PC with integrated BD drive are due for launch "shortly" afterward, according to the Blu-ray Disc Association. No detailed launch plans were disclosed.
Specs of BD-P1000 :
Movies :
Software for the new player will be released on May 23 by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Lionsgate Films.
The first Sony titles to be released will be: 50 First Dates, The Fifth Element, Hitch, House of Flying Daggers, A Knight's Tale, The Last Waltz (MGM), Resident Evil Apocalypse, and XXX.
They will be followed on June 13 by an additional titles including: Kung Fu Hustle, Legends of the Fall, Robocop (MGM), Stealth, Species (MGM), SWAT, and Terminator (MGM).
The first new release movie to hit Blu-ray Disc will be Underworld Evolution, which will launch in "early summer" on the same day as its DVD release.
Lionsgate's May 23 releases will be: Crash, Lord of War, The Punisher, Saw, and Terminator 2: Judgement Day. The first 2 titles will cost $40 and the latter 3 will cost $30, it said in a statement.
An additional five titles will be launched in June and July: Reservoir Dogs, Total Recall, Stargate, Frank Herbert's Dune, and The Devil's Reject.
Prices :
Sony has already announced its wholesale pricing for its own movies, which we believe will put most titles in the $23 to $39 price range at launch. Sony is not setting "suggested retail pricing" on their offerings, leaving the retail sector to look for a sweet spot.
Lion's Gate Films has announced retail pricing for the Blu-ray launch. The company is using two price tiers, $29.99 and $39.99, with the latter reserved for either new releases or "classics."
Rivals :
The first player for the HD-DVD format is due to be launched by Toshiba in March in the U.S.
Issues :
The launch of players for Blu-ray Disc and the competing HD-DVD format have been delayed by protracted talks regarding the content protection system that is common to both formats. While discussions have yet to be completed, an interim agreement was finalized last week that allows companies to begin production of hardware.
Samsung 'First out of the block' :
Samsung Electronics will be the first to launch its Blu-ray Disc player BD-P1000 and will be available from May 23 at Best Buy, Circuit City, and specialist retailers, the company said in a statement.
No price for the player was given, but At CES Samsung said it plans to sell the machine for around $1000.
Similar machines from Sony and Pioneer, Pioneer's BDP-HD1 and a Sony Vaio PC with integrated BD drive are due for launch "shortly" afterward, according to the Blu-ray Disc Association. No detailed launch plans were disclosed.
Specs of BD-P1000 :
- The BD-P1000 will pump out HD content at 720p or 1080i resolutions.
- Supported audio formats include 192KHz LPCM, Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus, MPEG 2, DTS, and MP3.
- The machine will play users' existing DVD and CD libraries, along with content stored on DVD-RAM and DVD±R/RW discs,
- It has a memory card reader capable of taking Compact Flash, XD, Micro Drive, SD, MMC and RS-MMC, and MemoryStick and Memory Stick Duo cards.
- Ports built into the device include CVBS Output, S-Video Output, component output, HDMI, and both digital and analog audio outputs.
Movies :
Software for the new player will be released on May 23 by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Lionsgate Films.
The first Sony titles to be released will be: 50 First Dates, The Fifth Element, Hitch, House of Flying Daggers, A Knight's Tale, The Last Waltz (MGM), Resident Evil Apocalypse, and XXX.
They will be followed on June 13 by an additional titles including: Kung Fu Hustle, Legends of the Fall, Robocop (MGM), Stealth, Species (MGM), SWAT, and Terminator (MGM).
The first new release movie to hit Blu-ray Disc will be Underworld Evolution, which will launch in "early summer" on the same day as its DVD release.
Lionsgate's May 23 releases will be: Crash, Lord of War, The Punisher, Saw, and Terminator 2: Judgement Day. The first 2 titles will cost $40 and the latter 3 will cost $30, it said in a statement.
An additional five titles will be launched in June and July: Reservoir Dogs, Total Recall, Stargate, Frank Herbert's Dune, and The Devil's Reject.
Prices :
Sony has already announced its wholesale pricing for its own movies, which we believe will put most titles in the $23 to $39 price range at launch. Sony is not setting "suggested retail pricing" on their offerings, leaving the retail sector to look for a sweet spot.
Lion's Gate Films has announced retail pricing for the Blu-ray launch. The company is using two price tiers, $29.99 and $39.99, with the latter reserved for either new releases or "classics."
Rivals :
The first player for the HD-DVD format is due to be launched by Toshiba in March in the U.S.