The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) today announced that The Walt Disney Company will become a member of the Board of Directors of the BDA, and will begin releasing content non-exclusively in the Blu-ray Disc format when Blu-ray hardware launches in North America and Japan. With this move, Disney joins the broad-based and expanding portfolio of consumer electronics, IT, game and content companies already supporting the format.
This decision will enable consumers to enjoy a wide range of popular new releases and classic pictures in the Blu-ray Disc format from Disney’s Buena Vista Home Entertainment group. Buena Vista Home Entertainment includes Walt Disney Home Entertainment, Hollywood Pictures Home Video, Touchstone Home Entertainment, Miramax Home Entertainment, Dimension Home Video and Disney DVD.
“With the advanced technology and broad-based support of the worldwide leaders in the CE, IT, and game industries, the Blu-ray Disc is an ideal format for content companies like Disney,” said Maureen Weber, General Manager, Optical Storage Solutions Business, Hewlett Packard. “The BDA is obviously very happy that Disney is supporting Blu-ray Disc, and we are excited to be able to draw from their vast and entertaining portfolio of content.”
“Disney is pleased to join the BDA,” said Peter Murphy, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Strategic Officer, The Walt Disney Company. “We believe that our portfolio of outstanding brands and content combined with the Blu-ray technology offers a major step forward for consumers eager to experience high definition content. We look forward to adding our technical and marketing expertise to the Blu-ray group and offering consumers the ability to experience great high-definition interactive filmed entertainment.”
Blu-ray Disc is a next-generation optical disc format being developed for high-definition video and high-capacity software applications. A single-layer Blu-ray Disc will hold up to 25 gigabytes of data and a double-layer Blu-ray Disc will hold up to 50 gigabytes of data.
BDA is responsible for establishing format standards and promoting and further developing business opportunities for Blu-ray Disc — the next-generation optical disc for storing high-definition movies, photos and other digital content. The BDA has more than 90 members. Its Board of Directors consists of Dell Inc.; Hewlett Packard Company; Hitachi, Ltd.; LG Electronics Inc.; Mitsubishi Electric Corporation; Panasonic (Matsushita Electric); Pioneer Corporation; Royal Philips Electronics; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; Sharp Corporation; Sony Corporation; TDK Corporation; Thomson; Twentieth Century Fox; and Walt Disney Pictures and Television.
