The home entertainment industry has accepted a single format for high-definition discs. The Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA (News - Alert)), a not-for-profit international trade association promoting the interests of the $33 billion home entertainment industry, announced the landmark decision.

 

"Home video has always been about delivering quality entertainment home through the best technology available for the home," noted Bo Andersen, EMA President. "Without question, high-definition optical discs deliver the finest sound fidelity and video quality available anywhere and provide an enhanced viewing experience through interactive features. Now that consumer confusion concerning dueling formats has ended, it is time for suppliers and retailers to redouble their efforts to bring home the message that Blu-ray discs deliver the finest viewing experience for the world's best entertainment."

 

"The marketplace has spoken. It is time that consumers hear the message," Andersen added.

 

EMA has been persuading hardware manufacturers, optical disc replicators and content providers to maintain a regular supply of Blu-ray players, game consoles, movies, TV series and games.

 

"The surge of consumer acceptance of high definition in their homes is now green-lighted," Andersen said. "It is critically important for all content companies deliver their best new releases and their rich catalogue slates to the market in Blu-ray strategically. We believe there is pent up demand for high definition optical discs in thousands of applications."

 

EMA boasts a wide membership encompassing retailers (from single-store specialists to multi-line mass merchants), distributors, the home video divisions of major and independent motion picture studios, and other related businesses that constitute and support the home entertainment industry.