Major Motion Picture Studios Choose Seastone Media Group to Deliver High Impact, New Packaging for New HD-DVD Releases

Major Motion Picture Studios Choose Seastone Media Group to Deliver High Impact, New Packaging for New HD-DVD Releases

Slim Eye-Catching Design Sets the Standard for Next Generation Optical Discs

PROVO, Utah, March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Seastone Media Group today announced it has been chosen by major motion picture studios to deliver the next generation cases for movies on the new Toshiba-backed HD-DVD format set for release beginning in April. Seastone, which has produced more than 200 million packages for special edition DVDs, games and software, has already begun production of the new Elite(TM) Case for pending HD-DVD releases such as Batman Begins, Bourne Supremacy and Twister. In addition, Seastone has developed future patent pending anti-theft security features aimed to curb the proliferating theft of the intellectually guarded property of film creators.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060315/LAW034)

"The highly anticipated HD-DVD format is a major advancement in home video technology," says Warren Osborn, president and CEO of Seastone. "We are pleased that major motion picture studios trust the first impression people will experience to Seastone during this industry changing advent in home entertainment."

HD-DVD is the first high-definition DVD format on the market and provides stunning picture and sound quality for high definition televisions and home theater systems.

"These high definition formats -- HD DVD and Blu-ray -- provide a more life-like high impact experience for consumers," says Osborn. "Seastone has designed the new Elite(TM) Case with outstanding shelf appeal and security features so consumers and retailers can rapidly recognize and realize the benefits of the new formats."

Secure, Space Saving Design

Future shipments of Seastone Elite(TM) HD-DVD cases will include patent pending features that inhibit shoplifters from attempting to steal the disc. Retailers, film producers, and consumers all benefit from these security features.

University of Florida research indicates American retailers lose more than $33 billion annually to inventory shrinkage, which includes shoplifting, employee theft, vendor fraud and administrative error. It further indicates that in the recorded media category, more than 40 percent of its loss is due to shoplifting.*

Additionally, the new cases measure 12.5 millimeters in thickness, which is significantly thinner than current DVD cases and allows both retailers and consumers to save valuable shelf space in stores and home libraries. Further, Seastone has worked closely with Milliken Chemical to take case clarity to the next level with Millad(R) clarifying agents and Cleartint(R) colorants. These colorants have allowed Seastone to provide the brightest, clearest, most transparent colors available to match the higher quality image associated with high definition discs.

"Seastone's case is stunning," says Jim Spry, director of Global Business Development with Milliken Chemical. "The case design, clarity, and color technology is beautifully matched with the high definition technology."

Current retailers who have committed to support HD-DVD players and movies include Sears, Best Buy, Crutchfield, Tweeter and Amazon.com. Other companies in support of the new HD-DVD discs are Microsoft, NEC, SANYO, HP and Intel.

About Seastone

Seastone Media Group is the premier provider of distinctively creative specialty packaging. Nimble and responsive, Seastone integrates breakthrough creativity and world-class manufacturing to provide media packaging services engineered to reflect the customer's vision. The world's most recognized companies in the media and entertainment industry look to Seastone for attention grabbing package design with standout shelf appeal. With production capacities in the hundreds of millions annually, Seastone's award winning team pushes the envelope of creativity making it the distinctive choice for specialty media packaging. For information, please visit www.seastone.com.

All trademarks, service marks and brand names are the property of their respected owners. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

*Source: Dr. Richard Hollinger at the University of Florida http://web.crim.ufl.edu/research/srp/NRSS_2001.pdf

Press Contact:
John Pilmer
PilmerPR
801-369-7535
jpilmer@pilmerpr.com

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060315/LAW034
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Seastone Media Group

CONTACT: John Pilmer of PilmerPR, +1-801-369-7535, jpilmer@pilmerpr.com,
for Seastone Media Group

Web site: http://web.crim.ufl.edu/research/srp/NRSS_2001.pdf

Web site: http://www.seastone.com/

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