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'Band of Brothers' Blu-ray Gets November Launch
Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 03:00 PM ETTags: Disc Announcements, TV on High-Def, HBO (all tags)
Following months of rumors, HBO has set a mid-November Blu-ray arrival date for the epic mini-series 'Band of Brothers.'
Though HBO first revealed their intention to bring the Tom Hanks & Steven Spielberg-produced war drama to Blu-ray earlier this year, they stopped short of confirming an exact street date. The studio has now issued an early alert to retailers pegging a November 11 release for the Emmy-winning series, which will come to high-def as a deluxe multi-disc box set.
As we're still awaiting the full press details for 'Band of Brothers' there are no tech specs or supplemental details available as of yet, though a set of extras comparable to the previous standard DVD release is expected. As always, we'll let you know as soon as further information comes to us.
Suggested list price for the Blu-ray has been set at $99.98.
You'll find preliminary specs for 'Band of Brothers' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 11.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Band of Brothers (Blu-ray)
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- HBO Enlists 'Band of Brothers' for Blu-ray (Apr 01, 2008)
HBO Enlists 'Band of Brothers' for Blu-ray
Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 11:00 AM ETTags: Disc Announcements, TV on High-Def, HBO (all tags)
There's no street date yet, but HBO Home Video is reportedly planning to bring the Emmy-winning mini-series 'Band of Brothers' to Blu-ray sometime this year.
While reporting on the upcoming standard DVD release of the recent 'John Adam's mini-series, Home Media Magazine spoke with a network rep who confirmed that plans for the Tom Hanks-produced 'Brothers' are underway.
Sofia Chang, Senior VP of Marketing for HBO, revealed that "...a Blu-ray version of 'Band of Brothers' is in the works for later this year."
Although HBO has not issued a release date window or any preliminary tech specs (and as always company plans can change), the news bodes well for a Blu-ray 'Band of Brothers,' a title which remains one of the oft-requested titles in HBO's library.
Needless to say, we'll keep you posted on 'Band of Brothers' and all future HBO Blu-ray titles as soon as details come to us.
We've also added 'Band of Brothers' to the "Release Dates Pending" section of our Blu-ray Release Schedule. Watch this space!
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Related links:
- A Founding Father's Day [Home Media Magazine]
HBO Confirms Switch to Blu-ray Exclusivity
Wed Jan 09, 2008 at 04:05 PM ETTags: Industry Trends, HBO (all tags)
As expected, HBO Home Video has fallen in line with parent Warner, confirming that it too will drop HD DVD support in favor of Blu-ray.
HBO Home Video president Henry McGee told the Hollywood Reporter today that the company will be "following the same policy as Warner Home Video" and will no longer release titles on HD DVD.
Distributed under the Warner umbrella along with New Line Home Entertainment and BBC Home Video, HBO had been format-neutral, releasing titles in both Blu-ray and HD DVD. Following New Line's move to Blu-ray, HBO now becomes the third Warner company to abandon HD DVD, leaving only the BBC (which Warner distributes domestically) to declare its future format intentions.
McGee offered no further details on the HBO Video's plans to transition to sole Blu-ray support, or the fate of its current HD DVD releases, which include two box set releases of the top-selling 'The Sopranos.'
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Related links:
- New Line Falls in Line with Blu-ray [The Hollywood Reporter]
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- New Line Details Transition to Blu-ray (Jan 08, 2008)
Warner: New Line, HBO Not Covered By Blu-ray Announcement (UPDATED)
Fri Jan 04, 2008 at 08:35 PM ETTags: Warner, New Line, HBO (all tags)
UPDATE: (3:10am ET, 1/05/08) Variety is reporting that Warner sister company New Line has confirmed that it too plans to shift to Blu-ray exclusivity.
Though it's widely expected that Warner Bros. subsidiaries New Line and HBO will follow Warner Home Entertainment to Blu-ray exclusivity, for the moment they remain format-agnostic.
That's according to Warner Home Entertainment President Kevin Tsujihara, who said that the studio's announcement that it would drop HD DVD support does not extend to titles released by New Line, HBO or the BBC (which Warner distributes here in the US).
"They'll be making whatever decision they're going to make," said Tsujihara. "I assume they'll let people know very quickly, but they are not covered by this initial announcement."
Tsujihara's comments came in a post-announcement conference call with various members of the media, including High-Def Digest.
Stay tuned for more news from the Warner conference call...
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
HBO Delays 'Sopranos' HD DVD
Sun Oct 08, 2006 at 11:42 PM ETTags: Disc Announcements, HBO (all tags)
Those anxiously awaiting what was to be the first television series released to a next-gen format are going to have to wait a little bit longer, as HBO has indefinitely delayed the HD DVD debut of 'The Sopranos: Season 6, Part 1.'
Originally announced to hit HD DVD simultaneously with the standard DVD on November 7, HBO has announced that the set has been pushed back to an undetermined date.
The company gave no reason for the postponement, though expectations are that tech specs and supplemental details should remain the same when the release finally does hit the streets.
We'll keep you posted as soon as further word comes in, and in the meantime, we've updated the listing for 'The Sopranos: Season 6, Part 1' in our HD DVD Release Calendar to reflect the delay.
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- 'Sopranos' Specs Unveiled (Aug 28, 2006)
'Sopranos' Specs Unveiled
Mon Aug 28, 2006 at 03:15 AM ETTags: Disc Announcements, HBO (all tags)
HBO Home Video has released the box cover art and specs for 'The
Sopranos: Season Six, Volume One,' giving HD DVD fans a taste of what's
to come when the set hits stores later this Fall.
Due November 7 day-and-date with the standard DVD release, the set will be the first TV title ever to debut on a next-gen high def format. And judging by the box art and early specs HBO has passed along to us, it looks a lot like what fans are already used to seeing with TV DVD. (Even the box art looks almost identical, except for the little HD DVD logo on the spine.)
Spanning four discs with three episodes each -- the same number as its standard DVD -- HBO will present the show in its original 1.78:1 broadcast aspect ratio and 1080p video, along with English Dolby Digital-Plus soundtracks and English, French and Spanish subtitles.
Extras announced so far include audio commentaries with cast and crew on four episodes, and no additional bonus content is planned exclusively for the HD DVD release.
Retail for the HD DVD version is set for $129.99, compared to $99.99 for the standard DVD edition.
The latest specs for 'The Sopranos: Season Six, Volume One' have been added to our complete HD DVD Release Schedule, and stay tuned for any additional details when they are officially announced.
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- 'The Sopranos' Headed to HD DVD (Aug 10, 2006)
'The Sopranos' Headed to HD DVD
Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 02:29 PM ETTags: Disc Announcements, HBO (all tags)
HBO is preparing to make HD DVD owners an offer they can't refuse this holiday season, when 'The Sopranos' becomes the first TV title to debut on the high-def format.
Due for release via Warner Home Video on November 7, 'The Sopranos: Season Six, Part One' will debut on HD DVD day-and-date with the standard DVD edition. A subsequent Blu-ray version will also be released "sometime in 2007," the studio announced.
Though no details on technical specs or extras are yet available, HBO has set a suggested $129.99 list price for the HD DVD version, $30 more than the standard DVD.
Stay tuned for further details, and visit our comprehensive HD DVD Release Schedule for a complete list of upcoming HD DVD titles.
- Related links:
- 'Sopranos' Slated For TV on HD DVD [Home Media Retailing]
HD-DVD Comes Out Swingin' with Initial Title Lineup
Thu Jan 05, 2006 at 10:59 AM ETTags: Warner, Universal, HBO, Weinstein Co. (all tags)
Blu-Ray
may have fired the first salvo
in the high-def format war at yesterday's CES 2006, but the HD-DVD camp
is not backing down from the fight. Universal, Warner, New Line and HBO
unveiled
their initial HD-DVD offerings today, which appeared to trump Blu-Ray
in terms of diversity, day-and-date with DVD support and speed to market,
with the first titles expected by mid-March.While all of the studios supporting either high-def DVD format unveiled about 10 to 20 titles apiece, initial impressions give HD-DVD the edge. The obvious catalog action blockbusters like 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'Matrix' trilogies are there, but so is comedic fare like 'The 40-Year-Old Virgin.' Combine that with strong same-day-as-DVD titles as 'Superman Reborn' and 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,' and it makes for a strong opening blitzkrieg. Having HBO under the Warner umbrella also means TV DVD will be better represented than it has been with Blu-Ray, with HBO pledging such top shows as 'The Sopranos' and 'Deadwood' by year end.
HD-DVD's showing was also boosted by the first genuine surprise of CES 2006: the newly-formed Weinstein Co. announced exclusive HD-DVD support. With an upcoming lineup of titles including 'The Matador,' 'Scary Movie 4,' 'Young Hannibal,' 'The Passion of the Clerks,' that's nothing to scoff at.
However, Blu-Ray has a counterpunch of its own still left for CES 2006. Disney will unveil their exclusive plans for the Sony-backed format with a gala event tonight, which could tip the scales back in the Blu-Ray's favor.
- Related links:
- Warner, Universal Set HD-DVD Slate [Video Business]
- HBO Announces HD-DVD titles [TV Shows on DVD]
- Weinstein Company Reaches an Agreement to Support HD-DVD [Reuters]
- HD-DVD in CES Comeback [Hollywood Reporter]
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- Studios Announce First Blu-Ray Assault (Jan 04, 2006)
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