TMCnet News
Sony launches 7 Blu-ray Disc titles in U.S.(Kyodo News International (Tokyo) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Jun. 21--NEW YORK -- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Inc. launched the first slate of Blu-ray Disc titles Tuesday in the United States in a move that marks the start of rivalry with the high-definition DVD format to become the technological standard for next-generation DVDs. The Blu-ray format for next-generation DVDs that is being promoted by an alliance of companies led by Sony Corp. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., while the high-definition DVD format is being led by Toshiba Corp., NEC Corp. and other companies. The delivery of the first seven BD titles, priced at $24.99 each, is timed to coincide with the first commercially available BD player from Samsung Electronics Co. and the Blu-ray Disc compatible VAIO personal computer from Sony Corp., Sony Pictures said in a press release. Samsung will sell the BD-P1000 DVD player for $999.99 starting Sunday, while Sony's BD-compatible VAIO AR190G PC was put on sale last week for $3,499.99. The launch of seven titles "marks the beginning of a new era in home entertainment that will forever change the way consumers look at, listen to and play movies, music and games," the company said. Titles available include "50 First Dates," starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore; Luc Besson's "The Fifth Element"; the hit comedy starring Will Smith, "Hitch"; "House of Flying Daggers" from director Zhang Yimou; "XXX," starring Vin Diesel; "The Terminator," featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger and the follow-up to the hit action-thriller "Underworld," from director Len Wiseman and starring Kate Beckinsale, "Underworld Evolution." |