Paramount to Offer First HD-DVD Movies

Paramount Pictures will be the first movie studio to offer movie titles in HD-DVD, a next-generation DVD format created by Toshiba and NEC. Paramount took the opportunity at a HD-DVD press conference at CES late Wednesday to announce that more than 20 titles are expected to be available by the fourth quarter of 2005.

"Paramount's depth of content, combined with the innovative technology of HD DVD, will introduce consumers to exciting, new ways of enjoying the action, drama, sounds and excitement of their favorite films in the comfort of their living room," said Rob Friedman, COO of Paramount Pictures. "We're pleased to be at the forefront of next generation of DVD and these titles are just the beginning."

Paramount called HD-DVD the superior technology and said it had several advantages over competing format Blu-ray, calling it more reliable and affordable.

No movie company has yet announced titles available for Blu-ray, but it is expected that announcements will become more numerous as the new players come onto the market in the second half of this year.

Among the first movies to be released in the new HD-DVD format will be studio hits such as "Forrest Gump" and "Braveheart," as well as newer releases such as "The Manchurian Candidate."