Sony Says No to Blu-Ray/DVD Hybrid Discs
Posted Fri Jun 2, 2006 at 12:39 PM PDT by
Despite the first hybrid high-def/DVD discs from rival format HD DVD
already on the market, Blu-ray backers say
they
have no plans to release such "transitional" discs in the foreseeable
future, reports Home Media Retailing.
That's at least according to comments from a Sony exec at the fifth annual Home
Entertainment Summit held this week in Los Angels by Home Media Retailing, The
Hollywood Reporter and The Digital Entertainment Group.
Warner Home Video became the first studio to introduce hybrid HD DVD/DVD disc
with such recent releases as 'Rumor Has It...' and 'Firewall, with Warner Senior
VP of market management Steve Nickerson telling Summit attendees that the studio
also plans to "continue putting out several hybrid DVD and HD DVD discs in the
coming months."
However, despite agreement among fellow studio representatives that there is
considerable consumer interest for "transitional" disc product capable
of playing both high-def and DVD content, vp of international for Sony Pictures
Home Entertainment Adrian Alperovich stated that "Sony [has] no plans to
put both formats on its Blu-ray discs" in the immediate future.
Alperovich's comments came as part of a panel featuring representatives of all
of the major Hollywood studios, who were on hand to discuss the current state
of the home entertainment industry, and the impact the HD DVD and Blu-ray formats
will have on future of the business.