Europe's premier online source of news, data & analysis for professionals involved in DVD, Blu-ray and new delivery technologies
A new method of evaluating Blu-ray Disc media quality could increase the per-layer storage capacity of a BD discs from 25GB to 33.4GB. The new method is likely to accelerate development of discs offering... Read more...
The home entertainment market was down 5% in 2009, though still reaching $22.8 billion in US consumer spending on all pre-recorded content. Blu-ray Disc products were the bright spot of the industry with... Read more...
Rovi has strengthened its next-generation media guide solution for the European market with the inclusion of Internet-based content from 15 individual content providers across Germany, France and the ... Read more...
Testronic Laboratories, the global leader in quality assurance and testing services to the Blu-ray and Broadcast industries, has announced the opening of its new 3D Test Lab. Set to launch in the first... Read more...
On 4 January in Guangzhou, the China High-definition DVD Industry Association announced that Guangzhou-based optical disc manufacturer Opus Media has begun producing China Blue High-definition Discs (... Read more...
According to a recent Screen Digest report, Blu-ray Disc over-production to meet retailer initial ordering is "already evident". Pipeline fill may account for an extra 30% above what is required to meet... Read more...
In a landmark victory for the US film industry, the World Trade Organization rejected China’s appeal of its earlier ruling that sided with the United States to get China to provide greater access to its... Read more...
Market research group DisplaySearch forecasts that the total stereoscopic 3D display market will grow from 700,000 units and $902 million in revenues in 2008, to 196 million units and $22 billion in revenues... Read more...
The Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem, the coalition with support from every sector of digital entertainment, announced at the Consumer Electronics Show it has reached key milestones toward establishing... Read more...
Cinram Logistics UK is operating a new voice-directed picking system at its site in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. The 10 VDP terminals – which are used for the picking of very fast-moving lines from pallets... Read more...
DivX, Inc. unveiled at CES DivX TV, a comprehensive embedded Internet TV platform that provides access to a diverse line-up of online media content streamed directly to any connected device from any manufacturer... Read more...
Technicolor has announced that Greg Gudorf and Peter Lee have joined the company to launch a newly-created business focused on integrated digital content delivery and device management. The new team will... Read more...
Are we going 'green' or is it 'business as usual'?
Here we go again! It’s 2010 and little is being done for this planet on which we live! But before spelling out his thoughts, TIMMY TREU wants to reassure the reader that he is neither connected nor does own stock in any of the companies mentioned thereafter.
Remember the ‘green’ revolution that started before the crisis? It surely looks as if little, or indeed nothing has really been done in the DVD business. Well, that’s not quite true! A lot has been done by companies who invent new technologies and products, like EcoDisc Technology’s carbon lite DVD or the advent of FSC paper. But little has actually been done to implement those technologies on a grand scale.
We are still using Amaray-like and other plastic boxes for DVDs although there are many options for using less PVC-intensive materials. Take for example Jake-Box’s 100% recyclable packaging, or Pozzoli’s Ekoline. Yes, they cost a little more! But can cost be the only reason why the DVD industry is snubbing the environment? It may think it has got a lot to lose.
ACCORDING to The Wall Street Journal, Sony loses 6 cents on "every dollar of PS3 hardware sales." Considering the PlayStation 3 current retails for $300, the company thus loses about $18 per unit. Not only has the loss been going on since launch, but when the console was released, iSuppli estimated that it cost Sony $805 to build the PS3.
TAIWAN-based blank optical disc maker CMC Magnetics expects shipments of its Blu-ray discs to account for 10% of its revenues in the second quarter and 20% in the fourth quarter of 2010. Because only seven companies are producing such discs around the world, gross margins for the segment are high at 30-40%. According to estimation by industry sources in Taiwan, CMC may ship more than 15 million BD discs in 2010.
SONY Pictures Entertainment has announced another round of job cuts, this time equal to about 6.5% of its work force. In a statement released by Michael Lynton, Sony Corp.'s Sony Pictures Entertainment chairman, the company will be laying off around 450 employees because of declining DVD sales. "The business is going through a rough period of trial and transition," said Lynton. "We have an obligation to take the steps necessary to get through it."
THOMSON shareholders have approved the restructuring plan made public by Thomson on 9 December 2009, including the change of name of the Thomson group to Technicolor. Also, the roles of Chairman and CEO will be separated under a new governance structure. The position had been combined in 2009 in light of the crisis facing the company.
SONY Pictures Entertainment has announced another round of job cuts, this time equal to about 6.5% of its work force. In a statement released by Michael Lynton, Sony Corp.'s Sony Pictures Entertainment chairman, the company will be laying off around 450 employees because of declining DVD sales. "The business is going through a rough period of trial and transition," said Lynton. "We have an obligation to take the steps necessary to get through it."
MPEG LA has announced that Shinco Electronics Group Co Ltd entered into MPEG LA's MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License during 2009. This signing also concludes actions brought by MPEG LA against Mintek Digital as well as Mintek's parent Jiangsu Digital Technology Co Ltd (Shinco Digital) and Shinco Digital's parent, Shinco Electronics, both located in China.
SUPERMARKET giant Tesco is making its movie debut with a joint venture to make films of books by best-selling authors. The group has joined forces with new media firm Amber Productions to create direct-to-DVD feature films, distributed online and through Tesco Direct. Paris Connections - based on a thriller by Jackie Collins - is currently being shot on location in France and will be available in Tesco stores in May.
THE HOLLYWOOD Reporter is reporting that US sales of Blu-ray Discs increased by 35% in the fourth quarter of 2009, compared to the same period in 2008. Statistics from the Digital Entertainment Group show that 38.6 million Blu-ray Discs were shipped, with revenue from sales increasing by 70% and revenue from rentals rising by 48%. Over the year as a whole, DEG found that total spending on Blu-ray Discs (sales and rentals) reached $1.5 billion.
BREAKING new grounds, Icon Home Entertainment said it will offer price parity on Blu-ray Disc and DVD new releases from April 1 including premium titles 'The Road', 'Nowhere Boy', 'Precious', 'A Single Man' and the forthcoming 'Edge of Darkness'.
