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To: John Rieman who wrote (29214)	2/7/1998 12:33:00 AM
From: CPAMarty	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50808

Pioneer Announces Support For Divx Format infoseek.com Newsbyte News Network Fri, Feb 06 1998 TOKYO, JAPAN, 1998 FEB 6 (NB) -- By Martyn Williams, Newsbytes. Becoming the third Japanese DVD player maker to do so, Pioneer Electronic Corporation {TOKYO:6773} has announced it will support the Divx format in its North American DVD-Video players. The new format is a variation on DVD-Video and has drawn some criticism from DVD makers because of the possible confusion it may cause. Pioneer says it expects to release a Divx-compatible DVD player in the summer of 1999, about a year after the system's planned North American launch date of this summer. At this time, no plans have been announced for Divx roll-out in the rest of the world. "By manufacturing a Divx player, we are positioned to offer Pioneer customers the broadest array of features available today in digital technology. Divx-enabled players will not only deliver all the quality and functionality of DVD, but provide consumers with an added dimension of convenience and flexibility," said Kaneo Ito, president of Pioneer Electronic Corporation. Divx discs will retail for a price much lower than that of conventional DVD-Video discs, less than $5 compared to the $25 to $50 a current disc costs. The low price will entitle users to use the disc for two days only, from the time the disc is played first, after which it will be useless, unless the owner buys more rental time. To allow this system to work, players must be fitted with a Divx module that includes a modem to make the purchases electronically. This means that standard DVD players will be unable to play the discs. This has led to criticisms of the system from groups fearful that consumers will be confused by the subtly different discs and players. The ability to tightly control content is more popular with content providers. Among producers backing Divx, Disney's Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Paramount, Universal and DreamWorks have all agreed to release titles in the format this year. Other manufacturers that have committed to making DVD-Video players with Divx modules include Zenith, Thomson, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. (Panasonic) and JVC Company of America. Reported By Newsbytes News Network: newsbytes.com (19980206/Press contact: Joni Saphir, Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc., 310-952-2507, e-mail: jsaphir@pioneer-usa.com) (Copyright 1998)