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hbgator

Thu 04 May, 2006


Blu-ray discs delayed by a month

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While high-definition DVD titles trickle into stores,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> the arrival of the first titles in the rival Blu-ray Disc format has been pushed back by a month until June 20.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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Sony Pictures Home Entertainment president Benjamin Feingold said his studio's first batch of Blu-ray releases will be ready May 23,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> as planned.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"But the majority of our retail base and hardware partners have requested that we reconsider this date to better coincide with the first commercially available Blu-ray-compatible hardware,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> Feingold said.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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The decision to hold off shipping Blu-ray titles to retailers comes several weeks after Samsung announced its first Blu-ray player wouldn't arrive in stores until June 25,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> a month behind schedule.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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Feingold said the first eight Blu-ray Disc titles from Sony won't ship until then <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"in an effort to ensure a more coordinated launch.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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The first Blu-ray Disc titles from Warner Home Video are expected to arrive in stores around the same time,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> although no firm dates or titles have been announced.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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The Sony Blu-ray Disc titles that are now slated to arrive in stores June 20 are <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"Underworld Evolution"<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>(arriving the same day as the DVD)<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"50 First Dates,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"The Fifth Element,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"Hitch,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"House of Flying Daggers,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"A Knight's Tale,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"The Last Waltz,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"Resident Evil Apocalypse"<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> and <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"XXX.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>