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Sony Films To Use Old Technology for Hi-Def DVDs
1 December 2005 (StudioBriefing)
Online techies were expressing surprise Wednesday at Sony's announcement that it will release its first movies on high-definition Blu-ray DVDs using the 11-year-old MPEG-2 system. Commented Nick Farrell of Britain's The Inquirer: "MPEG-2 was the codec which Noah used in the ark to watch old episodes of William Hartnell's Dr. Who during those long 40 days and 40 nights of rain." A writer for News.com observed, "By using either AVC or VC-1 [two other formats that are supported by the Blu-ray system], Sony could have achieved even better picture quality for the movies." But Don Eklund, senior vice president of advanced technology for Sony Pictures, responded: "Advanced formats don't necessarily improve picture quality. ... Our goal is to present the best picture quality for Blu-ray. Right now, and for the foreseeable future, that's with MPEG-2." Some writers saw the decision as inevitably pitting key members of Sony's film division against the parent company's Japanese electronics developers, who had reportedly pushed for employing the more advanced standards for Blu-ray.