HP (NYSE:HPQ) and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) today announced that SPHE will license select catalog titles from its vast home video library for production and distribution via HP’s DVD manufactured-on-demand service.
This agreement makes Sony the first major Hollywood studio to present its home video titles using HP’s service.
“HP’s manufactured-on-demand service provides us with a viable means of delivering a broader range of niche and library product to consumers,” said David Bishop, president, SPHE. “We know there is strong consumer demand for these titles, and by working with HP we can monetize our deep product library and help give retailers the means to bring a wider offering of Sony Pictures product to consumers without a significant investment in inventory.”
The list and availability of SPHE titles to be licensed through this agreement has yet to be finalized.
HP DVD Manufactured-on-Demand Service
HP’s manufactured-on-demand service is used to produce a DVD of any movie, TV show or other video content, regardless of niche or obscurity. Content currently being targeted for release includes:
- Classic and older TV shows never before released on DVD
- Foreign movies
- Productions for specialty genres such as religion, education, lifestyle, health, food and sports
- Specialty cable TV programming
- Independent movies
- Recently broadcast TV shows and sporting events with high relevancy in specific geographic markets or within specific consumer segments.
For studios and video merchants, the HP service can eliminate the challenges of matching supply and demand on catalog and specialty titles and also reduce inventory, packaging and return costs.
The service is a component of HP Digital Content Services (http://www.hp.com/go/dcs), which helps retailers fulfill the requests of customers wanting video content in various forms, including digital downloads, traditional packaged DVDs and emerging video formats such as HD DVD and Blu-ray discs.
“HP’s agreement with Sony signals a significant move in the entertainment industry,” said Willem de Zoete, vice president and general manager, Digital Content Services, HP. “Together, we’re offering customers a greater selection of content, bridging the gap between the amount of content that is created and that which actually is published and available for consumption.”
About Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is a division of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPHE’s global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content 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 67 countries. Information on SPHE and Blu-Ray can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com/bluray.
About HP
HP focuses on simplifying technology experiences for all of its customers – from individual consumers to the largest businesses. With a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure, HP is among the world’s largest IT companies, with revenue totaling $104.3 billion for the four fiscal quarters ended Oct. 31, 2007. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com.
