HOME VIDEO HISTORY.org

Sony and MGM Release the First 7 Titles on Blu-ray

Sony and MGM Release the First 7 Titles on Blu-ray

The very first titles are released on the new HD format, Blu-ray. They include 50 First Dates (2004), The Fifth Element (1997), Hitch (2005), House of Flying Daggers (2004), Underworld: Evolution (2006) and xXx (2002). The studio will also distribute The Terminator...
Samsung BD-P1000 (Blu-ray)

Samsung BD-P1000 (Blu-ray)

Samsung ships out the very first batch of Blu-ray players to retailers, the BD-P1000. Its cost is $1,000, twice that of Toshiba’s competing player for their HD-DVD format.
Toshiba HD-A1 & HD-XA1 (HD-DVD)

Toshiba HD-A1 & HD-XA1 (HD-DVD)

Toshiba is the first to release an HD 5-inch disc. Their first players are the HD-A1 ($499) and the HD-XA1 ($749). They delay the roll out in the U.S. until April 18th, when movies will be available on the format.
Sony Launches the Universal Media Disc (UMD)

Sony Launches the Universal Media Disc (UMD)

Sony debuts the UMD (Universal Media Disc) format with the launch of their PSP handheld game system in Japan. Spider-Man 2 (2004) is among the titles available with the system’s release. Movies are released on the format up until 2011 with the introduction of...