Sony delays Blu-ray titles

Launch moved to June with introduction of players

By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 5/3/2006

MAY 3 | Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has pushed its initial Blu-ray titles to June.

Sony’s first batch, including Hitch, 50 First Dates, and The Fifth Element, had been slated to bow on May 23. These titles, among others, are now slotted for release on June 20 at stores.

Amazon.com had the new date in place on its site Wednesday. Retailers Fred Meyer and Hastings also were prepared for a delay.

The news didn’t come as a shock to retail. The first Blu-ray players won’t hit shelves until June, so it makes sense to coordinate that launch with the software.

“They really have got to get on the hardware -- that has to be there -- otherwise the Blu-ray DVDs are worthless,” Hastings director of marketing Mason Goodfellow said. “That’s like selling PlayStation 3 games now. They aren’t going to work on anything.”

Sony said it reacted to please retailer hopes for a smooth Blu-ray rollout.

“Although these titles will be available as scheduled, the majority of our retail base and hardware partners have requested that we reconsider this date to better coincide with the first commercially available Blu-ray compatible hardware,” said Ben Feingold, head of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment worldwide, in a statement. “ In an effort to ensure a more coordinated launch, we will deliver the first eight SPHE Blu-ray titles -- 50 First Dates, The Fifth Element, Hitch, House of Flying Daggers, A Knight's Tale, The Last Waltz (MGM), Resident Evil Apocalypse and XXX -- to retail on June 20, along with the first day-and-date with DVD title, Underworld Evolution.”

The decision follows Warner Home Video’s move to delay the bow of its HD DVD titles from late March to mid-April for quality assurances. Toshiba later shifted its hardware rollout to coincide with Warner's April 18 street date.