Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment To Launch "The Superbit" DVD Collection On October 9
New Encoding and Reallocation Process Produces Highest Quality Image And Sound Available On DVD-Video Format
Initial Releases Include Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Johnny Mnemonic, The Fifth Element, Air Force One, and Desperado.
Culver City, Ca. (8/6/01) - Setting a new standard for DVD Video performance, Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment has announced the October 9 launch of "The Superbit Collection." The Superbit titles utilize a special high bit rate digital encoding process which optimizes video quality while offering a choice of both DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio.
In making the announcement, Benjamin S. Feingold, President of Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment stated: "The Superbit Collection will set a new benchmark in audio and video quality for the DVD format. This new process was developed by our outstanding group of engineers and technicians at the Sony Digital Studios and was designed to give consumers a choice between the highest quality audio and video transfer at a competitive price versus our standard, rich package of value added features."
By reallocating space on the disc normally used for value-added content, Superbit DVDs can be encoded at double their normal bit rate while maintaining full compatibility with the
DVD video format. The result is picture quality that provides outstanding detail which complements the performance of the latest progressive DVD video players.
The first slate of Superbit titles includes the Oscar winning masterpiece Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, along with Johnny Mnemonic, The Fifth Element, Air Force One, and Desperado. These titles have been produced by a team of Sony Pictures Digital Studios video, sound and mastering engineers and comes housed in a special package complete with a 4 page booklet that contains technical information on the Superbit process. Each carries a suggested list price of $27.96.
A Superbit 3-pack comprised of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Desperado and The Fifth Element will also be released. Suggested list price is $73.95.
Continued Mr. Feingold, "Standard DVDs are like fully loaded luxury automobiles. In contrast, Superbit DVDs are like Formula One race cars - built for pure performance. We believe that DVD enthusiasts will be thrilled with this exciting new concept."
The new Superbit DVD Collection will be supported this Fall by a dedicated retail display and a variety of print advertisements and consumer promotions.
Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company. Sony Pictures' global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution, television production and distribution, worldwide channel investments, home entertainment acquisition and distribution, operation of studio facilities, development of new entertainment products, services and technologies, and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries worldwide.
Visit Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment on the World Wide Web at http://www.cthe.com
Leading Experts Praise Superbit DVD Titles From Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment
New Encoding and Reallocation Process Produces Highest Quality Image And Sound Available On DVD-Video Format.
Initial October 9th Releases Include The Fifth Element, Air Force One, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Johnny Mnemonic and Desperado.
Culver City, Ca. (9/24/01) Leading industry experts are acclaiming the initial Superbit DVD titles from Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment for setting a new standard in DVD Video performance. The Superbit Collection utilizes a high bit rate digital encoding process which optimizes video quality while offering a choice of both DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio.
By reallocating space on the disc normally used for value-added content and multiple audio streams, Superbit DVDs can be encoded at double their normal bit rate while offering full compatibility with the DVD Video format. The result is picture quality that provides outstanding detail which complements the performance of the latest progressive DVD Video players.
According to Jonathan Valin, editor of The Perfect Vision: "The new Superbit transfer of Luc Besson1s pop classic (The Fifth Element) is indeed superior to Sony's famous earlier transfer of the same film... as a print made from a 4 x 5 negative is to a print made from a 35mm negative -- you see that much more fine detail, depth and trueness of color, and gradations of contrast... in every scene...".
Mr. Valin continues: "If The Fifth Element is representative of Sony1s Superbit process, then we are in for a new era of transfer excellence."
Additionally, Tom Norton, editor of Stereophile Guide To Home Theater states: "True high definition on DVD is still in the future, but Superbit is a tantalizing and rewarding step in the right direction."
The first slate of Superbit titles includes the Oscar winning masterpiece Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, along with The Fifth Element, Air Force One, Johnny Mnemonic and Desperado. These titles have been produced by a team of Sony Pictures Digital Studios video, sound and mastering engineers and comes housed in a special package complete with a 4 page booklet that contains technical information on the Superbit process. Each carries a suggested list price of $27.96.
A Superbit three -pack comprised of Crouching tiger Hidden Dragon, Desperado and The Fifth Element will also be released at the suggested list price of $73.95.
Benjamin S. Feingold, President of Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment adds: "The new Superbit process was developed by our outstanding group of engineers and technicians at the Sony Digital Studios and was designed to give consumers a choice between the highest quality audio and video transfer at a competitive price versus our standard, rich package of value added features."
Mr. Feingold concludes: "We believe that DVD enthusiasts will be thrilled with this exciting new concept."
Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company. Sony Pictures1 global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution, television production and distribution, worldwide channel investments, home entertainment acquisition and distribution, operation of studio facilities, development of new entertainment products, services and technologies, and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries worldwide. The Columbia TriStar Home entertainment web address is www.CTHE.com. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at www.spe.sony.com.
Visit Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment on the World Wide Web at http://www.cthe.com