Lionsgate delays Blu-ray titles

First wave now coming Jun 27, after Samsung players

By Jennifer Netherby -- Video Business, 4/12/2006

APRIL 12 | Lionsgate Entertainment will push back its Blu-ray software launch to June 27 to coincide with Samsung’s June 25 player launch, a spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Samsung, which is set to launch the first Blu-ray players, said last week it would delay its players a month so it can complete compatibility testing with software.

Lionsgate, which originally scheduled its Blu-ray releases for May 23, will debut Saw, Crash, Lord of War, Terminator 2: Judgment Day and The Punisher on June 27. A second wave initially due on June 13 has been postponed, but the studio hasn’t yet set a new date.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has said it will hold to its May 23 launch, when the studio plans to release eight films including 50 First Dates, House of Flying Daggers and MGM’s The Last Waltz.

Sony and Lionsgate are the only two studios that have announced release dates for Blu-ray.