DVD in china....
South China Morning Post
Tue, Oct 14 1997
The curious, the passerby, the man on his lunch break gather with others in front of a large television at the entrance of a Fortress electronics store.
The sharp lines and thunderous sounds of a digital video disc (DVD) movie have the small crowd mesmerised. And it's no wonder, says Alan Bremner, general manager of Dot Media Ltd, which will be exhibiting at the Hong Kong Electronics Fair.
"For the first time, DVDs bring studio-quality, ultra-realistic pictures into homes," he said.
"Full vista views of wide-screen movies can be seen the way they were shot by a movie director. The colour and sound is theatre quality. The Dolby Digital (AC-3) effectively gives six surround-sound channels that far surpass old surround-sound systems.
"Those were a precursor to what we have here and, in comparison, only a pseudo version of what a DVD provides. This is like being at the movies."
DVDs have been on the market for several months and, next month, Dot Media Ltd will start its own production in Hong Kong. Based on the wide acceptance of VCD use, the company is optimistic about a huge market for DVDs, especially as players drop in price. At present, for example, the company estimates there are 15 million VCD players in China. By next year, that number should increase to 25 million; by 2000 it should jump to 50 million. These numbers are significant when one considers that, at present, each VCD player consumer also buys 25 to 40 movie titles a year. In terms of DVDs, the company expects there will be 10 million players by 2000.
"Just by simple multiplication, you can see how huge this is going to be," Mr Bremner said. He expects the VCD and DVD market will grow in China - its primary target.
Harder to produce than CDs and VCDs, DVDs offer a new barrier against pirating. However, Mr Bremner does concede that keeping pirates out will also ultimately depend on pricing. Both Time-Warner and Disney have been sold on DVD technology with Disney committing to five new DVD releases a month. According to Mr Bremner this is the next revolution in home entertainment. As well, DVDs have multiple language tracks, meaning that one disc will be capable of up to eight different language sound modes and up to 32 channels of subtitles.
A Hollywood movie in English can be watched in Mandarin and then again in Cantonese at the switch of a channel. Mr Bremner thinks DVD technology will even influence the way movies are made. "DVDs allow for some level of inter-activity. Multiple endings to a movie, depending on {a viewer's} reaction, will be possible," he said. |
