Weinsteins exclusively for HD DVD

CES UPDATE: Studio Canal also will support format

By Paul Sweeting and Scott Hettrick -- Video Business, 1/6/2006

JAN. 6 | HD DVD picked up some high-profile software support this week, with the announcement Wednesday that the Weinstein Company, the new studio formed by former Miramax toppers Harvey Weinstein and Bob Weinstein, will begin releasing titles in HD DVD in the spring.

Trevor Drinkwater, head of TWC's new video distribution company, Genius Products, said there are no plans at this time to also support Blu-ray, making TWC and Universal the only two suppliers supporting HD DVD exclusively.

One of the primary proponents of HD DVD, former Warner Home Video president Warren Lieberfarb, is a consultant to the Weinsteins and Genius as well as Toshiba.

In a joint statement, the Weinsteins said, "We are impressed by Toshiba's technology and very much look forward to working with them. We are pleased to be joining Toshiba, Microsoft, Intel, Hewlett-Packard and the other major studios supporting the HD DVD format."

Neither TWC or Genius provided any specific titles or timing of the first movies to be released on HD DVD, but Drinkwater said it likely would not be in March when several other studios are releasing the first titles in concert with Toshiba's introduction of the first HD DVD player. The timing will likely be closer to summer, he said.

Also coming on board for HD DVD was Studio Canal, which said it plans to release 30 HD DVD titles in 2006 in Europe.