LOS ANGELES, Aug. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
 (SPHE) today announced an increase in total Blu-ray Disc(TM) (BD) sales
 across six emerging markets including Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Eastern
 Europe, South Africa and the Middle East -- illuminating the positive
 reception from retailers and consumers for the new high-definition format
 since its launch just four months ago in April 2007.
     Since April, Blu-ray Disc sales have accounted for 10% of SPHE's
 business in the regions. The company saw a 21% increase in BD orders across
 the month of June alone. "It is extremely positive to see an increase in
 volume of BD software sales in these markets where piracy has previously
 ravaged the DVD business," said T. Paul Miller, Senior Vice President,
 International, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
     SPHE is the only studio to have licensed high-definition Blu-ray Disc
 content for local distribution in many of these markets and new partners
 are coming on line every month. "This news underscores not only the demand
 for premium content in these markets, but also the need for a home
 entertainment format with an impenetrable content protection system like
 Blu-ray's," added Matt Brown, Executive Vice President, International, Sony
 Pictures Home Entertainment.
     Among top-selling BD titles from SPHE in these regions are Casino
 Royale, Ghost Rider, Open Season, Kung Fu Hustle, Black Hawk Down, XXX and
 Stealth. South Africa accounts for the largest share of Blu-ray Disc sales,
 with more than 15,000 units shipped to date.
     About Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
     Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is a Sony Pictures Entertainment
 company. SPE is a division of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of
 Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion
 picture production and distribution; television production and
 distribution; digital contest creation and distribution; worldwide channel
 investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of
 studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and
 technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in 73 countries.
 Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at
 http://www.sonypictures.com.
     For further information contact:
 
     Claire McKittrick, SPHE, Worldwide Publicity, +1 310 244 4722,
     claire_mckittrick@spe.sony.com
 
     Jason Allen, SPHE, Worldwide Publicity, + 1 310 244 3502,
     jason_allen@spe.sony.com
 
 

SOURCE Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

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