NME Launches Its HD VMD Disc Solution Into Markets Worldwide for Autumn of 2007 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

james99 · 2007-09-26, 08:44 AM

LONDON--(MARKET WIRE)--Sep 26, 2007 -- New Medium Enterprises(NME) (OTC BB:NMEN.OB - News), provider of the revolutionary new high definition HD VMD(Versatile Multilayer Disc) disc technology solution, announces its worldwide commercial launch this October-November, into the North American, European, Asian and Oceana regional markets. NME is positioning its new HD VMD format as the most practical and cost-effective solution in the HD market by giving consumers what they have been craving -- an affordable, full HD Player and DVD up-scaler with superior image playback. HD VMD also has a growing list of over 100 blockbuster Hollywood and Bollywood film titles which will come available through its network of distributors in those markets. Players and films will be available in soon to-be-announced mainstream retail outlets across each region, as well as accessible online through Amazon.com, PC Rush.com and NME's e-commerce Web store from mid October.

NME's commercial launch comes directly on the heels of a major new addition to its board, Mr. Michael Jay Solomon, recently appointed as the company's new chairman. Solomon's illustrious television and film career includes such prestigious positions as president of Warner Bros. International Television and Lorimar Telepictures. Solomon brings experience in both traditional media companies and start-ups. His expertise includes film and television distribution, as well as development of online and digital media companies. With extensive experience throughout multiple global markets, including EMEA, China and North America, Michael will work with the NME board and senior management team to further develop its business on a global scale and promote its HD VMD disc format and players.

"NME has developed a high definition product that speaks to current market needs and also looks to the future. The timing is right to come into the market now and this company has been forging the right content, distribution and production deals," said Solomon. "This company is right on the cutting edge of the high-growth HD market, with exciting growth potential. I'm very enthusiastic about being a part of this company."

Chairman Michael Jay Solomon will be appearing this Thursday, September 27 for a live interview at 11:30a.m. CDT on MN1.com's Market News First program.

Solomon co-founded Telepictures Corporation, which he grew to become the largest U.S. television syndication company and one of the largest international television distribution companies. Telepictures became a public company (NASDAQ) after only 14 months under the leadership of Solomon as chairman and CEO. A landmark deal saw Telepictures merge with Lorimar to form Lorimar Telepictures Corp., where Solomon became the new company's president and served on its board of directors. When Lorimar was acquired by Warner Bros., Solomon became president of Warner Bros. International Television. In recent years, Solomon has spearheaded multiple industry advancements through his company, Solomon Entertainment Enterprises.

NME's entry into the high definition format game is sure to raise consumer eyebrows -- a practical red laser solution to the confusion stemming from the HD DVD and Blu-ray debate. Combining the best industrial opto-electronics and disc technologies, HD VMD brings together established DVD red-laser production infrastructure with novel break-through multilayer disc technology, delivering its consumers a full HD picture at a competitive price.

Commenting on NME's upcoming North American debut, CEO Mahesh Jayanarayan states, "U.S. consumers have waited for an HD solution at DVD pricing; and with HD VMD, we believe we have met this desire through a stellar quality, high-definition disc and player at a price point that almost anyone can afford.

"With the launch into the U.S. market this month and an accelerating rollout of HD VMD content and retail distribution partners, we plan to drive adoption of HD in the home," he added.

Source: New Medium Enterprises

darrylr · 2007-09-26, 11:27 AM

Interesting...

U · 2007-09-26, 11:44 AM

The combined sales for Blu-Ray and HD DVD movies are insignificant compared to regular DVD's and together they have support from pretty much all major studios. This format is going nowhere without studio support, period.

SensualPoet · 2007-09-29, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by james99

Players and films will be available in soon to-be-announced mainstream retail outlets across each region, as well as accessible online through Amazon.com, PC Rush.com and NME's e-commerce Web store from mid October.

It's nice to have an alternative in the wings but I can't see how this will ever seriously challenge the existing players. Only if BD & HD DVD implode by next summer is there a hope this format will thrive. You can pre-order one each of two models on amazon.com direct through NME (the format owners) for delivery after November 1; players are $199. So far there isn't a single VMD title listed.

I expect there will be a $199 (or less) Venturer HD DVD player available for purchase by that same date -- with 500 titles available.

The forces behind VMD are impressive; the non-US markets look tempting; but there is another player out there ready to serve those markets, too: the Chinese edition HD DVD format which, possibly, might be embraced in markets like India. Who knows? I can say I wouldn't be investing half my life savings in VMD just at the moment.

james99 · 2007-10-11, 08:48 AM

For those who care, these machines are offically for sale with street prices under 200USD. They might be a good upconvert DVD player.

darrylr · 2007-10-11, 08:51 AM

The only problem being almost zero movies that most people have ever heard of to watch on these machines?

SensualPoet · 2007-10-11, 06:26 PM

A great upconvert player can already be bought for under $200. I don't see the "advantage" of HD VMD. Plus great upconvert players from HD DVD camp are around the corner in the same price range (some end of stock HD-A2s sold in Canada from FS at this price point recently). "Upconvert alternative" doesn't seem to me to be enough of a plus for US$200 ... especially since amazon does not sell hardware into Canada making these HD VMD players more theory than reality at the moment.

Gord Lacey · 2007-10-17, 01:30 PM

I'm going to be speaking to some of the MNE people tomorrow (Michael Jay Solomon, Chairman of the Board and Alexandros Potter, Executive Vice President) about the HD VMD product.

Does anyone have questions they'd like answered?

Gord

pynner · 2007-10-17, 07:00 PM

a few... but im sure you already have these questions in mind:

Specs (full)
features
studio support in N/A
why we even need another entry into an area that's already not that healthy to start with?
Manufacturing costs
why?
why?
and why?

LOL.. ok.. im sure you can pick out the serious questions and im also sure you will ask all the right questions..

im looking forward to hearing some answers!

2007-09-26, 08:44 AM	#1
james99 Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Burlington Posts: 24,791	NME Launches Its HD VMD Disc Solution Into Markets Worldwide for Autumn of 2007 LONDON--(MARKET WIRE)--Sep 26, 2007 -- New Medium Enterprises(NME) (OTC BB:NMEN.OB - News), provider of the revolutionary new high definition HD VMD(Versatile Multilayer Disc) disc technology solution, announces its worldwide commercial launch this October-November, into the North American, European, Asian and Oceana regional markets. NME is positioning its new HD VMD format as the most practical and cost-effective solution in the HD market by giving consumers what they have been craving -- an affordable, full HD Player and DVD up-scaler with superior image playback. HD VMD also has a growing list of over 100 blockbuster Hollywood and Bollywood film titles which will come available through its network of distributors in those markets. Players and films will be available in soon to-be-announced mainstream retail outlets across each region, as well as accessible online through Amazon.com, PC Rush.com and NME's e-commerce Web store from mid October. NME's commercial launch comes directly on the heels of a major new addition to its board, Mr. Michael Jay Solomon, recently appointed as the company's new chairman. Solomon's illustrious television and film career includes such prestigious positions as president of Warner Bros. International Television and Lorimar Telepictures. Solomon brings experience in both traditional media companies and start-ups. His expertise includes film and television distribution, as well as development of online and digital media companies. With extensive experience throughout multiple global markets, including EMEA, China and North America, Michael will work with the NME board and senior management team to further develop its business on a global scale and promote its HD VMD disc format and players. "NME has developed a high definition product that speaks to current market needs and also looks to the future. The timing is right to come into the market now and this company has been forging the right content, distribution and production deals," said Solomon. "This company is right on the cutting edge of the high-growth HD market, with exciting growth potential. I'm very enthusiastic about being a part of this company." Chairman Michael Jay Solomon will be appearing this Thursday, September 27 for a live interview at 11:30a.m. CDT on MN1.com's Market News First program. Solomon co-founded Telepictures Corporation, which he grew to become the largest U.S. television syndication company and one of the largest international television distribution companies. Telepictures became a public company (NASDAQ) after only 14 months under the leadership of Solomon as chairman and CEO. A landmark deal saw Telepictures merge with Lorimar to form Lorimar Telepictures Corp., where Solomon became the new company's president and served on its board of directors. When Lorimar was acquired by Warner Bros., Solomon became president of Warner Bros. International Television. In recent years, Solomon has spearheaded multiple industry advancements through his company, Solomon Entertainment Enterprises. NME's entry into the high definition format game is sure to raise consumer eyebrows -- a practical red laser solution to the confusion stemming from the HD DVD and Blu-ray debate. Combining the best industrial opto-electronics and disc technologies, HD VMD brings together established DVD red-laser production infrastructure with novel break-through multilayer disc technology, delivering its consumers a full HD picture at a competitive price. Commenting on NME's upcoming North American debut, CEO Mahesh Jayanarayan states, "U.S. consumers have waited for an HD solution at DVD pricing; and with HD VMD, we believe we have met this desire through a stellar quality, high-definition disc and player at a price point that almost anyone can afford. "With the launch into the U.S. market this month and an accelerating rollout of HD VMD content and retail distribution partners, we plan to drive adoption of HD in the home," he added. Source: New Medium Enterprises

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2007-09-26, 11:27 AM	#2
darrylr Veteran Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Nepean, Ontario Posts: 2,980	Interesting...

2007-09-26, 11:44 AM	#3
U Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1,488	The combined sales for Blu-Ray and HD DVD movies are insignificant compared to regular DVD's and together they have support from pretty much all major studios. This format is going nowhere without studio support, period.

2007-10-11, 08:48 AM	#5
james99 Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Burlington Posts: 24,791	For those who care, these machines are offically for sale with street prices under 200USD. They might be a good upconvert DVD player.

2007-10-11, 08:51 AM	#6
darrylr Veteran Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Nepean, Ontario Posts: 2,980	The only problem being almost zero movies that most people have ever heard of to watch on these machines?

2007-10-11, 06:26 PM	#7
SensualPoet Veteran Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Downtown Toronto • Toshiba 52XL177 • HD DVD Toshiba • Rogers HDPVR Cisco 8642 Posts: 2,886	A great upconvert player can already be bought for under $200. I don't see the "advantage" of HD VMD. Plus great upconvert players from HD DVD camp are around the corner in the same price range (some end of stock HD-A2s sold in Canada from FS at this price point recently). "Upconvert alternative" doesn't seem to me to be enough of a plus for US$200 ... especially since amazon does not sell hardware into Canada making these HD VMD players more theory than reality at the moment.

2007-10-17, 01:30 PM	#8
Gord Lacey Veteran Join Date: May 2003 Location: Edmonton Posts: 1,746	I'm going to be speaking to some of the MNE people tomorrow (Michael Jay Solomon, Chairman of the Board and Alexandros Potter, Executive Vice President) about the HD VMD product. Does anyone have questions they'd like answered? Gord

2007-10-17, 07:00 PM	#9
pynner Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Vancouver, bc Posts: 224	a few... but im sure you already have these questions in mind: Specs (full) features studio support in N/A why we even need another entry into an area that's already not that healthy to start with? Manufacturing costs why? why? and why? LOL.. ok.. im sure you can pick out the serious questions and im also sure you will ask all the right questions.. im looking forward to hearing some answers!