Deluxe Digital Studios-London Begins Production of Next Generation DVD in Advance of European Launch

Deluxe Digital Studios-London Begins Production of Next Generation DVD in Advance of European Launch

Part of Deluxe Digital Studios' Overall Expansion Into Europe

LONDON, June 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Deluxe Digital Studios-London today announced the start of domestic production of HD DVD and Blue-ray in its London facility as part of Deluxe Digital Studios' ongoing worldwide expansion of its production and mastering facilities in advance of the UK and European launch of both formats. The announcement was made today by Will Morley, Managing Director of DDS London.

This initiative enables movie and television studios to use the most recent and advanced technology to deliver their content to European consumers. It also highlights DDS London's role as a cornerstone in Deluxe Digital Studios' European plans.

Gerald Hinton, Technical Projects Manager at Deluxe Digital Studios- London, is heading up the project, with the support of Deluxe's new technology division at the company's production centre in Burbank, California.

Deluxe has invested over $10 million in HD DVD and Blu-ray equipment, including a full-service HD DVD and a Blu-ray optical disc mastering and replication unit. These services are being integrated with Deluxe Digital Studio's other content production (bonus material development), menu design, subtitling and localisation, video compression, audio encoding, authoring, and Download-to-Own ("Electronic Sell Through") services.

Will Morley, Managing Director of Deluxe Digital Studios-London, said: "To show the new formats at their best has been a huge challenge for the industry. DDS London is very proud to be able to share its hard-earned expertise with content owners both in the UK and throughout Europe."

Cyril Drabinsky, CEO of Deluxe Film said: "The team at DDS London has done a fantastic job to bring HD DVD and Blue-ray to the UK and Europe. In so doing, it reinforces just how critical our UK operation is to our whole business and it will act as a valuable springboard for Deluxe to deliver the best and most innovative technology even more widely."

Deluxe Digital Studios-Burbank launched its commercial HD DVD and Blu-ray services in January 2006 after more than a year of research and development. As part of this project, Deluxe's internal R&D group has been working very closely with many of the major studios and consumer electronics companies on both HD DVD and Blu-ray. The resulting technology has already been well received by the industry; the number of completed titles is quickly approaching 30 and will exceed 60 by the end of June.

Deluxe Digital Studios-London is organizing high definition production demonstrations of real discs for any interested rights owners or studios.

About Deluxe :

Deluxe has been an industry leader in developing film technology since its inception in 1915 when it was established as a film lab for William Fox Studios. Since then, the company has expanded into all service sectors within the entertainment industry including feature and independent film, broadcast television, home entertainment, music and games.

Over the years, Deluxe has grown to include services around the globe with facilities throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Deluxe offers a complete, turnkey solution for rights holders throughout the lifecycle of a title and we manage film, television or home entertainment projects from capture through to distribution.

Source: Deluxe Digital Studios

CONTACT: To arrange a demonstration, Louise Williams, +44-20-7437-4402,
louise.williams@bydeluxe.com; For further information about Deluxe Digital
Studios, Matthew Hiltzik, Freud Communications, Inc. +1-212-582-9795,
Matthew.Hiltzik@freud.com

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