Universal Music Backs Sony’s Blu-Ray DVD Format

Aug. 17–NEW YORK — Universal Music Group, one of the world’s leading music companies, said Tuesday it will support Sony Corp.’s next-generation DVD format, a move that would add a fresh twist to the new DVD standard race with Toshiba Corp.

Universal Music joined the Sony-led group for the Blu-ray format, challenging the rival Toshiba bloc, which developed the HD DVD format. The music company and Sony BMG Music Entertainment, another leading music company which earlier announced its support for the Blu-ray format, will bring nearly half the share of the world’s music software market into the Sony camp.

The battle between Sony and Toshiba is over the main technology used in new DVDs that delivers sharper pictures with music.

The two camps have been trying to standardize the format but have not reached any agreement.

Toshiba plans to release a DVD player in the HD-DVD format by the end of this year, while Sony and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. intend to release products in the Blu-ray standard.

—–

To see more of Kyodo News International, go to http://www.kyodonews.com

Copyright (c) 2005, Kyodo News International, Tokyo

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

V, EX, SNE, 6758, TOSBF, 6502, MC, 6752,