Warner Getting More Blu!

[Go Blu]

Warner Getting More Blu
(10/18/2007)
CHRIS TRIBBEY

Warner Home Video is calling it a “titlewave” and it spells nothing but good news for Blu-ray Disc fans.

Blu-ray viewers don’t have access to some Warner 20 titles that are available on HD DVD. But with the announcement of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines on Blu-ray Dec. 4, there’s hope. The announcement promises “more high-def releases soon” and the Blu-ray of T3 will include an In-Movie Experience, Warner Bros. first picture-in-picture (PIP) BD. The release also includes three commentaries, gag reels, a storyboard comparison, making-of featurettes and an introduction from Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Daniel Silverberg, VP of HD media development for the studio, noted that the T3 Blu-ray is not Blu-ray profile 1.1, the mandated programming required for all Blu-ray players introduced after Oct. 31. Profile 1.1 requires the addition of a second video decoder, allowing for PIP features, and expansion of required memory to 256MB. Both Lionsgate and Disney previously have released Blu-ray discs that allow for some PIP using current BD technology.

“We remain hopeful that Blu-ray hardware manufacturers get Profile 1.1 and BD Live (profile 2.0) players into the market place soon and the user base grows in order for us to deliver the same interactive and connected content on all high-def discs regardless of format,” Silverberg said.

Homemediamagazine