UMG joins Blu-ray association

But stops short of pledging product to format

By Jennifer Netherby -- Video Business, 8/16/2005

AUG. 16 | Universal Music Group, which has no current connection to the NBC Universal media conglomerate, said Tuesday it’s joining the Blu-ray Disc Assn.

But UMG—whose home entertainment releases are distributed through sister company Universal Music Video Distribution--stopped short of committing to release titles in the high-definition format.

"The delivery of both high-definition video and multi-channel audio technologies is becoming increasingly important," said Larry Kenswil, president of eLabs, UMG's new media and technologies division. "We recognize that Blu-ray Disc has the capacity, functionality and interactivity both artists and music fans demand. We intend to work closely with the BDA in order to represent the unique requirements of the music industry in the format creation process."

If Universal Music chooses Blu-ray, it would join Sony BMG on the music-disc side. The two companies represent roughly 50% of the music market.

Blu-ray is engaged in a showdown with another fledgling hi-def format, HD DVD, in a campaign to enlist disc suppliers to its camp.