Sony Annnouncs Start of Full Services for Blu-ray Disc Production from HD Video Shooting to Disc Mass Production

JCN Newswires, July 12, 2006

Tokyo, Japan, July 12, 2006 - (JCN Newswire) - As the Blu-ray Disc (BD) format gains wide acceptance, Sony forecasts a sharp increase in demand for High Definition (HD) video contents on BD. Sony is therefore introducing an integrated suite of services to support BD production from HD video shooting, editing and authoring necessary for transferring HD content to disc to disc mass production and packaging.

Sony PCL has established an exclusive BD authoring studio that provides authoring services compatible with the BD-ROM standard. The studio provides maximum technological support to bring out the full attractiveness of HD video. Services include support for shooting and editing of HD content, high-level mastering, menu/subtitle creation and authoring. Services extend from disc production to creation of disc cases/jackets, accessories and packaging. Sony PCL is responsible for video-related software while Sony Music Communications is responsible for music-related video software.

Solid base for disc mass production

Sony Music Manufacturing (SMM) in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan is responsible for the manufacturing of a stable supply of high-quality BD discs. SMM has already started manufacturing BD video contents for Japan and overseas compliant with the AACS (Advanced Access Content System) copyright protection standard as well as evaluation discs. To achieve efficient production for less cost, Sony is successfully shifting from sheet coating to spin coating for disc covering and seeks to complete the shift by the end of this year. Production capacity at SMM will initially be 300,000 discs per month, rising to 2.5 million per month this fall. It is envisaged that US facilities will be producing 5 million BD discs per month by year-end along with production of 2.5 million BD discs per month in Europe. This means that by year-end Sony's global production facilities should be manufacturing about 10 million BD discs per month (including production for PlayStation 3).

*"PlayStation" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Customer Inquiries

Video-related Software

Sony PCL Inc., Media Business Div., Marketing Promotion Dept.

Tel: 03(3492)9671

Sony PCL Home Page: http://www.pcl.sony.co.jp/

Music-related Software

Sony Music Communications Inc., Sales Division Tel: 03(3266)7824

Sony Music Communications Home Page: http://www.smci.jp/

References

Sony Music Manufacturing Home Page: http://www.sony.co.jp/soj/etc/smm/

Sony BD Official Home Page: http://www.sony.jp/products/Consumer/BD/

About Sony

Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game, communications, key device and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, computer entertainment and on-line businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be the leading personal broadband entertainment company in the world. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of approximately $67 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005. Sony Global Web Site: Sony Global Web Site: http://www.sony.net

Source: Sony

Contact:

Sony Corporation
Gerald Cavanagh
Gerald.Cavanagh@jp.sony.com
Tel:  81-3-5448-2200
Fax:  81-3-5448-3061

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