Fox and MGM unveil Blu-ray exclusive worldwide releases for 2007

[Amel]

Fox and MGM Unveil Blu-ray Exclusive Worldwide Releases for 2007
Aug 20 at 15:59


29 Titles To Debut Packed With Soon-to-Be-Announced BD Industry 'Firsts' - PLUS
- Fox's First TV Title 'PRISON BREAK' FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER
And LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD and Other Titles To Debut Day-and-Date on BD/DVD --
Blu-ray Out-Performing HD DVD 2-to-1 At Retail in 2007 --

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (TCFHE) today unveiled an
aggressive global Blu-ray Disc release strategy including 29 new release and
"must-have" catalog titles that runs through the end of the 2007 calendar year.
Among the many highlights of the impressive worldwide slate are six day & date
BD/DVD new theatrical releases from Fox including the $241 million box-office
family favorite FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER and the $335 million
box-office action powerhouse LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD, four day & date BD/DVD (U.S.
only) new theatrical releases from MGM, 19 'must-have on BD' films from the two
studios' libraries, Fox's first-ever TV release on BD - PRISON BREAK -- and
Fox's intention to release at least one state-of-the-art title per month
featuring numerous BD 'firsts.'
The only high-definition packaged media universally supported by the film,
music, gaming and computer industries, BD is the #1 selling high-definition
packaged media. In fact, on a worldwide basis, BD is averaging nearly 70%
market-share per week of all high definition titles sold this year and, in the
U.S., it is out-performing HD DVD by a margin of 115%.
"Given that Blu-ray has consistently outsold HD DVD all year, and this is
the case for any titles released by any studio in both formats, we believe that
the time is right for us to accelerate our activities and help convert the
nearly 60 million high definition households worldwide into Blu-ray households,"
noted Mike Dunn, President Worldwide, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.
"By the end of this calendar year there will be expansive availability of
technically vibrant releases featuring never-before-seen, advanced BD-J
interactivity as well as a broad offering of playback devices at attractive
prices that will prove to any doubting consumers once and for all that Blu-ray
is the only way."
"And as Blu-ray continues to grows stronger, it has become survival of the
fittest which is most apparent in the retail landscape where our eager and
growing global Blu-ray consumer base has caused a shift that is forcing the
allocation of more space to the format that is selling the best. And, in many
recent instances of note, top retailers in North America are choosing to promote
the Blu-ray format exclusively in their stores," continued Dunn.
Among the BD industry 'firsts' from the Studios' upcoming global release
slate are picture in picture capability, enhanced viewing and surround sound
modes with the ability to mix and match picture and sound, direct access to
in-movie features through one of the four colored buttons on the BD remote and
the most technically vibrant BD-Java interactive multi-player challenge and
trivia games to date. The Studios' slate also takes full advantage of BD-Live
functionality this fourth quarter. Internet-connected consumers will enjoy
unique, title specific "web-enabled" interactive features and games and
"web-exclusive" downloadable content with the ability to connect and interact
with other broadband BD users worldwide.
Cementing its leadership position within the industry - previous BD
releases NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM and X-MEN THE LAST STAND rank in the Top 20
best-sellers - the vast majority of the Studios' upcoming global slate will be
presented on 50 GB dual-layer discs with advanced BD-J interactivity and feature
numerous Blu-ray exclusive high-definition bonus materials that further realizes
BD's incredible potential. Consumers will enjoy the superior video and audio
elements of AVC encoding and Lossless HD audio on many of the coming titles as
well as enhanced and integrated menus, personal scene selections, search
indexing, trivia and other title specific games and high-definition bonus
materials.
Upcoming BD-J features exclusive to priority catalogue titles from Fox and
MGM include an "Alien Scavenger Hunt" (INDEPENDENCE DAY) that challenges players
to earn points by identifying the correct number of aliens in select scenes to
unlock additional bonus features; a "Global Warming Trivia Track" (THE DAY AFTER
TOMORROW) where users must correctly answer questions about global warming to
keep the Earth's temperature from rising and being destroyed; and a historical
and geographical pop-up map (MASTER & COMMANDER) that tracks the location of
Captain "Lucky" Jack Aubrey and his enemies.
Listed below are the upcoming Blu-ray Disc releases from Fox and MGM
excluding new theatrical day & date BD/DVD releases. EXACT TITLE CONFIGURATIONS
TO FOLLOW IN THE COMING WEEKS.

TITLE N.A. RELEASE INTERNATIONAL RELEASE
MASTER & COMMANDER OCT. 2 OCT.
THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW OCT. 2 NOV.
FROM HELL OCT. 9 OCT.
THE FLY (1986) OCT. 9 Q1 08
EDWARD SCISSORHANDS OCT. 9 NOV.
28 DAYS LATER OCT. 9 North America Only
ROBOCOP (MGM) OCT. 9 DEC.
AMITYVILLE HORROR (1979) (MGM) OCT. 9 North America Only
BATTLE OF BRITAIN (MGM) NOV. 6 Q1 08
A BRIDGE TOO FAR (MGM) NOV. 6 Q1 08
I, ROBOT NOV. 13 Q1 08
DIE HARD NOV. NOV.
DIE HARD 2: DIE HARDER NOV NOV.
DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE NOV. NOV.
RED DAWN (MGM) NOV. Q1 08
MR. AND MRS. SMITH DEC. 4 DEC.
INDEPENDENCE DAY DEC. 4 DEC.
CAST AWAY DEC. 4 North America Only
RONIN (MGM) DEC. 4 DEC.

Blu-ray Disc is a next generation optical disc format developed for
high-definition video and high-capacity software applications. A single-layer
Blu-ray Disc holds up to 25 gigabytes of data and a dual-layer Blu-ray Disc
holds up to 50 gigabytes of data. This greater storage capacity enables the
Blu-ray Disc to store over six times the amount of content than is possible with
current DVDs, and is particularly well-suited for high definition feature films
with extended levels of additional bonus and interactive material. Blu-ray also
features the most advanced copy protection, player backward compatibility with
the current DVD format, connectivity and advanced interactivity.
Fox takes advantage of the next generation format's high definition
technology and advanced functionality to present its titles with the highest
quality audiovisual elements. Showcasing picture quality with six times the
resolution of DVD and theater quality "uncompressed" audio for the purest
digital sound, the cutting-edge discs also feature enhanced and integrated
menus, games, high-definition bonus materials and Java-encoding for more dynamic
and sophisticated interactivity.
The Studio's commitment to emerging technologies is dedicated to enhancing
the consumer experience of its products and providing for backward compatibility
with their existing home entertainment libraries while also aggressively
protecting its intellectual property from piracy. The Blu-ray companies fully
embrace the Studio's steadfast commitment to the fight against piracy and the
preservation of the integrity of its properties. Twentieth Century Fox is a
member of the Board of Directors of the Blu- ray Disc Association.
A recognized global industry leader, Twentieth Century Fox Home
Entertainment LLC (TCFHE) is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution
company for all Fox film and television programming on VHS, DVD and Blu-ray Disc
(BD) as well as acquisitions and original productions. The company also releases
all products around the globe for MGM Home Entertainment. Each year TCFHE
introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to
retail outlets -- from mass merchants and warehouse clubs to specialty stores
and e-commerce - throughout the world. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
LLC is a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, a News
Corporation company.
Source: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Contact: Fox Home Entertainment
North America
Steve Feldstein/Callie Jernigan
310.369.5369 / 310.369.8370
or
International
Marla Rothschild/Stephanie Wenborn
310.369.5827 / 44.77.986.28695
__________________

[WriteSimply]

They released about 30 titles.

They stopped when AACS, the copy protection mechanism used on both HD-DVD and BD, was hacked. This enabled the HD copying of of films on both formats. Within months, Fox stopped releasing titles as they wait for BD+, an additional security mechanism on BD only, to be tested.

We don't know when they will be coming back. Hopefully soon.


fuad

[Ender]

They released a handful of titles early on, then quit. They never said why, but most people believed that they were waiting for the new BD+ security system. Considering the recent Paramount announcement, I'm more inclined to believe that they saw a format war that was going nowhere and decided to pull out.

[CptGreedle]

BD+ has reportedly been finished recently, so we are waiting for FOX to announce titles and dates. So far, the closest we got is MGM releasing a title for Blu-ray, but not FOX itself yet.
I hope they act soon though, to counter the move Paramount made.

[dseb1985]

thanks for the info

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by Ender

Considering the recent Paramount announcement, I'm more inclined to believe that they saw a format war that was going nowhere and decided to pull out.

I don't think that is true. The studios KNOW that BD was selling more units than HD-DVD; the Nielsen ratings was favorable to BD since January 2007. HD-DVD was nearly dealt with when MS & Warner showed Paramount some money.

What's holding out Fox is the BD+ testing. Unlike HD-DVD which only has AACS and the Toshiba players, the BD+ testing is across multiple CEs making BD players and BD-burners. Hence the prolonged testing.


fuad

[E-Dogg]

Let's hope Fox doesn't make a hasty move like Paramount did and support the rival format.

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by E-Dogg

Let's hope Fox doesn't make a hasty move like Paramount did and support the rival format.

That would be unlikely since Fox wanted BD+ to be there. So they are either still in BD or they won't release any HD optical discs at all.


fuad

[gandley]

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

That would be unlikely since Fox wanted BD+ to be there. So they are either still in BD or they won't release any HD optical discs at all.


fuad

I dunno, perhaps a 300 million paycheck from MS could make them look the other way

If fox dont counter this bad bit of news swiftly, then that will be a telling indication of where fox stands.

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by gandley

I dunno, perhaps a 300 million paycheck from MS could make them look the other way

If fox dont counter this bad bit of news swiftly, then that will be a telling indication of where fox stands.

300 million is nothing when you compare that with the potential loss due to piracy of ALL of Fox's catalog and future films if they release on HD-DVD.


fuad

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

300 million is nothing when you compare that with the potential loss due to piracy of ALL of Fox's catalog and future films if they release on HD-DVD.

$NNN million to simply not release anything? Free money, and absolutely no risk.

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

$NNN million to simply not release anything? Free money, and absolutely no risk.

Yeah but then eventually MS won't get anything with their HD-Lite scheme either 'cuz of the DRM issue.


fuad

[AustinSTI]

Yeah fox needs a shock and awe now more than ever. I'm still shocked paramount would go exclusive...

[Pestilence]

Yeah the site has been psychocrushed by the explosive exclusive news.

[E-Dogg]

The site is under construction...Wait til you read the news by Fox showing EXCLUSIVE SUPPORT FOR BLU-RAY!!!! AN ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE MADE TODAY PEOPLE!!!! Give the link a few minutes and check again!!!

[E-Dogg]

Here is some more great news...

http://www.hollywoodinhidef.com/blog_detail.php?id=113

[Balian]

Perhaps its a joke from a HD DVD fanatic?

[CptGreedle]

You better be right about this!

[BigB88]

Originally Posted by AustinSTI

Yeah fox needs a shock and awe now more than ever. I'm still shocked paramount would go exclusive...

Not me, they are simply money *****s. Too greedy and IMHO, this will come back to bite them.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by E-Dogg

The site is under construction...Wait til you read the news by Fox showing EXCLUSIVE SUPPORT FOR BLU-RAY!!!! AN ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE MADE TODAY PEOPLE!!!! Give the link a few minutes and check again!!!

I guess all that replication line capacity for Paramount titles just became available, eh?

Fox announcement pending later today!

After months of silence, Fox Home Entertainment is planning to issue an announcement later today renewing its support for the Blu-ray format and the studio's upcoming release plans.

The move comes after this morning's shocking revelation that Paramount and DreamWorks have switched allegiances exclusively to rival HD DVD going forward, news which has left those on all sides of the format war blind-sided.

We've since received official confirmation from Fox today that in response to Paramount's announcement, they are currently fast-tracking a press releasing reiterating their exclusive support for Blu-ray, as well as further details on future release plans.

Though Fox (who also distributes MGM titles) was one of the early and most vocal major studio backers of Blu-ray, they studio has largely stepped out of the high-def sweepstakes for the past several months. Neither Fox nor MGM has released nor announced a single Blu-ray title on the format since 'Hoosiers' in early March. They also cancelled a huge slate of planned winter high-def releases, including such hits as 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith,' 'From Hell' and 'Me, Myself & Irene,' which have yet to be rescheduled.

We'll certainly keep you posted as soon as Fox's press release is unveiled in the coming hours. Watch this space!