Fox Set to Renew Blu-ray Commitment, Announce Future Release Plans

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

[xfrgtr]

HEHEHE,good news,I WANNA watch PREDATOR and ALIEN ON BLURAY!!!!!!!!
ngoniko,I know that I'm talking about PREDATOR with schwarzy and the Alien series

[ngoniko]

Alien vs Predator is on bluray at blockbuster

[MaximusPrime]

i want the simpsons TV episodes and the upcoming Simpsons Movie. ;)

[drtysouf21]

this format war is getting UGLY!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=...

[jcgamer]

it is about to get uggglyyy!

[xfrgtr]

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

[bluegoblin]

I really hope that BR will win this stupid war just beacuse i hate the 360 LOL!!!
But microsoft is supporting hd dvd and i got news for you MICROSOFT OWNS THE 360 hello? wake up.

[cuco33]

last i checked the 360 had a DVD9 drive, not an HD DVD drive as it's only an add on. i personally wouldn't get the add on, i'ld cop the HD-A2 HD DVD player from toshiba. it's only $200, doubles as an upconverting DVD player, has better features vs the add on as well (i like my sound as well as my visuals, sry ms add on... that's where you dropped the ball). don't stay biased man you only gonna miss out on the goods from all camps

[Cartesian3D]

WORLD WAR 3

now Format war.. :D in 2009 we will burn a 200 GB Blu-ray in Toshiba laptops for sure ..

{sarcasm}o_O

[Nameless]

FOX is a greedy company. It should be easy for the HD-DVD camp to buy them out.

[aaquib2]

FOX has soooo many more movies than the few Paramount ones that are going HD DVD.

[MaximusPrime]

Star Wars vs Star Trek.

Take your pick.

Star Wars for me.

[DJ]

"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%."

Goes to show that Paramount basically sold out and went against better judgment. I wonder if BD Association is going to end up offering a counter-deal for significantly more money; if HD-DVD is going to play dirty, they might as well go for the kill and purchase exclusivity from everyone they can.

[cdzie1]

This announcement is nothing compared to 2 studios going HD DVD exclusive.

[xfrgtr]

you're the one who means nothing

[XxZxX]

let cdzie7 has it, his toshiba pulled a great moves. He's been crappy for a long time. Let him have this one, because when Blu-Ray retaliate, he's gonna be feel crappy again.

[bootsielon]

...and some ought to be castrated, never to foul the earth like that again.

[WilliamRLBaker]

if they went and became supportors of both formats? or hd dvd exclusive? id laugh my ass off.

[Loudninja]

Some been out awhile, spits not as big as a blow as you think

[sajj316]

Fox support = $0.00

[Bombomb]

sony and BD always had the support of most major Studios, really not much has changed on their End besides loosing 2.

It's never good news when you loose a piece of the Pie, you always had.

If anything Paramount is superb news for the HD-DVD camp since it didn't have much support, and still needs more.

This is very similar to Sony loosing market-share to the 360.

[heavymetal3k]

Well if MS can go buy 2 studio's support that were behind both formats, Sony should go do the same, i suggest WB and New Line.

Its gonna get ugly. :)

[bluegoblin]

if sony somehow manages to get hold of WB this war is over for sure i can see it coming!!jaja!!

[XxZxX]

STARWARS on blu-ray?? that will be sweet.

[miked808]

Nothing new to read here. I already have Star Wars in High Def. HD-DVR + HBO HD and Cinemax HD.

[THE_JUDGE]

better put on their boots and get ready to re-up. I would love for Apple to announce BD drives in their fall line up of Macs. That would be a good back stroke.

[Anything but Cute]

I hope Blu ray responds to HD DVD's tactics. They need pay one of other major studios that's currently neutral.

[damnwrx]

Funny thing is that I don't need to support HD-DVD nor boycott Paramount I'm just "not" buying/purchasing HD-DVD But, to purchase it on a regular DVD for cheaper and view it on my PS3 which also plays Blu-ray.he he he
Plus I can't wait for "CARS" "NEMO" on Blu-ray....Booyah

[XxZxX]

my final Paramount Blu-Ray will be Top-Gun. After that, you can go HD-DVD. I see next year or two when deal is over.

[damnwrx]

CARS and NEMO on Blu-ray should outpace HD

[jared81799]

....mmmmm star wars on blu-ray

[Xbox is the BEST]

Is Fox Sony's do boy. And comsumers did not chose Blu Ray it was forced onto gamers and PS3 will not outsell any standalone players it the long run Blu Ray or HD DVD. It was a bad move bc Blu Ray does not make the games the hardware does and Microsoft has a more powerful hardware. It has its defect but it will be fixed. Have a nice day

[abdito]

the simpsons blu-ray will rule