Audio Video News

Last week, <A HREF="http://www.cthv.com/">Columbia TriStar Home Video</A> (CTHV) and <A HREF="http://www.universalstudios.com">Universal Studios Home Video</A> (USHV) jointly announced an agreement to distribute USHV DVDs outside North America. According to the companies, the agreement represents a milestone in the international expansion of DVD. CTHV, the first major Hollywood studio to release films on DVD outside the US (i.e., in Europe, Latin America, and Japan), is now joined by USHV as one of the few major studios releasing its movies on a consistent basis internationally.

On Tuesday, February 16, five major computer and consumer-electronics companies---<A HREF="http://www.hitachi.com/">Hitachi</A>, <A HREF="http://www.ibm.com/">IBM</A>, <A HREF="http://www.nec.com/">NEC</A>, <A HREF="http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/">Pioneer</A>, and <A HREF="http://www.sony.com/">Sony</A>---announced that they have achieved an acceptable copyright-protection system for digitally reproduced movies and videos. The five companies are original members of the 11-member Copy Protection Technical Working Group (CPTWG), which has been at work on the problem for two years under the auspices of the DVD Forum.

Last week, <A HREF="http://www.apple.com">Apple Computer</A>, <A HREF="http://www.compaq.com">Compaq Computer</A>, <A HREF="http://www.panasonic.com">Panasonic</A>, <A HREF="http://www.philips.com">Philips Electronics</A>, <A HREF="http://www.sony.co.jp/">Sony</A>, and <A HREF="http://www.toshiba.com">Toshiba</A> announced their support of the high-speed IEEE 1394 digital interface and their intention to form a patent pool to efficiently license patents required to implement the standard. The six companies say they will work together to create a joint licensing program and promote the industry-wide adoption of IEEE 1394.

J<I>imi Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell, Billy Cox. Directed by Chuck Wein. Aspect ratio: 4:3. Dolby Digital stereo. 137 minutes. 1971. Rhino Home Video R2 4461. Rated R. $24.95.</I>

High-speed access is almost universally acknowledged as the most important next step in the development of the Internet. Interactive capabilities, transaction time, and the ultimate resolution of digitally transmitted audio and video are all limited by the speed with which data can be sent.

Last week, <A HREF="http://www.image-entertainment.com">Image Entertainment</A> signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Eagle Rock Entertainment that paves the way for 28 music titles to be released on DVD in the coming months. According to Martin Greenwald of Image, "Music DVD is a relatively untapped genre in comparison to the number of motion pictures being released on DVD. Image has recognized a real opportunity and taken the lead in this category of DVD programming. To date, Image has released dozens of music-related DVDs, and we will continue to aggressively explore other licensing opportunities for all types of music programming: pop, rock, jazz, and classical."

Last week, <A HREF="http://abc.go.com/">ABC Internet Group</A> and the <A HREF="http://www.oscars.org/">Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences</A> launched <A HREF="http://www.oscar.com">Oscar.com</A>, the "official website of the Academy Awards." Beginning on February 9, the day Oscar nominees are to be announced, Oscar.com will present a live video stream of the Academy Awards nominations announcement and the full list of nominees, as well as a history of the Academy Awards, photos, and a synopsis of each nominated film.