Studio & DVD News - 20th Century Fox

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Site created 12/15/97.

page updated: 3/2/99

Studio News -
20th Century Fox

20th Century Fox Home Video has provided us with the keep case artwork for their forthcoming DVD release of The X-Files (street date 4/20).

As far as features, the DVD is expected to include:

- letterboxed widescreen

- Dolby Digital 5.1 sound

- full-length audio commentary with series creator Chris Carter and director Rob Bowman

- 3 theatrical trailers

- 30 minute behind-the-scenes documentary

PREVIOUS NEWS (9/16/98)

Fox has finally, officially announced their first wave of DVD titles. Please note that The Abyss, which was mentioned in their initial press release, has been replaced by Speed. Some disc features have been announced, however which titles will include full Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtracks is not yet known. These discs may contain English and Spanish audio and subtitles, and Closed Captions. All will be in the Amaray keep case. The titles are as follows:

Home Alone 3 - letterboxed widescreen (1.85:1), theatrical trailer

Hope Floats - letterboxed widescreen (1.85:1), theatrical trailer

Jingle All the Way - letterboxed widescreen (1.85:1), theatrical trailer

Marked for Death - letterboxed widescreen (2.35:1), theatrical trailer

Porky's - pan & scan, theatrical trailer

Predator - letterboxed widescreen (1.85:1), theatrical trailer

Speed - letterboxed widescreen (2.35:1), theatrical trailer

Young Frankenstein: SE - letterboxed widescreen (1.85:1), theatrical trailer, audio commentary with director Mel Brooks, "making of" documentary, interviews, outtakes & bloopers, stills

PREVIOUS NEWS (8/10/98)

Want some big and very good news? Here it is! This appeared on PR Newswire this morning...

Twentieth Century Fox to Release Product on DVD

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 10

/PRNewswire/

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (TCFHE) announced today that it will enter the open DVD market with six initial titles on November 3, 1998. Fox's debut DVD titles include the popular favorites THE ABYSS, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, PORKY'S, PREDATOR, JINGLE ALL THE WAY and MARKED FOR DEATH and each is priced at US$29.98/C$32.98 (M.A.P. US$24.95). Also part of the initial launch are HOME ALONE 3 and HOPE FLOATS, with each of these new releases priced at US$34.98/C$36.98 (M.A.P. US$29.98). Specific on-disc features and programming information will be forthcoming.

"We have been watching the development of the marketplace and the various anti-piracy measures very closely. It has reached the point where we will make our entry with this varied mix of titles on DVD," noted Patricia Wyatt, President of Fox Consumer Products, the retail-oriented, strategic alliance of Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and Twentieth Century Fox Licensing and Merchandising. "As for a policy on new product releases, we plan to approach that on a title-by-title basis going forward."

Wyatt previously announced Fox's support of DIVX, stating, "We believe that DIVX is a great proposition for the growing number of consumers entering the digital video marketplace."

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is an operating unit of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, a News Corporation company.

SOURCE Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Web Site: http://www.foxhome.com

PREVIOUS NEWS (2/19/98)

[Editor's Note: I made a quick call to Fox Home Video's VP of Media Relations Steve Feldstein, to try to get a better sense of the announcement from Fox's perspective. He was quite decent, but unfortunately, could not comment beyond the press release you see below. Rest assured however, that the phones over at Fox were ringing off the hook...]

Twentieth Century Fox to Release Product on Divx
Fox Joins Four Other Studios in Support of Divx

(General Press Release - February 19, 1998)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA/HERNDON, VA., February 19, 1998 -- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (TCFHE) and Digital Video Express, LP (Divx) have reached a multiyear agreement that will allow for TCFHE feature film video products to be released on Divx discs. Plans call for new video titles to be made available on Divx concurrent with their VHS rental and major promotion sell-through release. A selection of catalog products also will be made available on Divx.

Twentieth Century Fox joins four other motion picture studios in supporting the Divx system, an enhanced DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) model that provides greater consumer convenience and flexibility, digital-quality picture and sound, and increased anti-piracy protections.

"We believe that Divx is a great proposition for the growing number of consumers entering the digital video marketplace," noted Pat Wyatt, Acting Head of Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. "Given the significant anti-copy safeguards that Divx offers, we feel our film assets will be sufficiently protected to allow for their day and date release with VHS."

"Fox's support of Divx is terrific news for at-home video audiences as it expands the number of titles available on a digital disc," said Richard L. Sharp, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Divx. "Beginning later this year, the remarkable dramas, comedies and action films that movie lovers have come to expect from Twentieth Century Fox -- such as ALIEN RESURRECTION, THE EDGE and THE FULL MONTY -- will be available in a high-quality, convenient digital format."

The Divx system enables consumers to purchase a special, encrypted movie disc that contains a two-day viewing period. The 48-hour viewing window begins, not when the consumer leaves the store, but only after he or she inserts the disc into the Divx player and presses play, either on the day of purchase, the following week or months away. Because the disc never has to be returned, there are never any late fees, and additional viewing periods can easily be purchased through the player. Divx-equipped players will play all basic DVD discs, but the lower-cost Divx discs cannot be played on basic DVD players.

Other studios with long-term agreements with Divx include Disney, Paramount, Universal and DreamWorks.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, a News Corporation company. Recognized as an innovative global industry leader, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is the marketing, sales and distribution company for all FoxVideo and Fox Interactive products. Visit Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on the internet at www.foxhome.com. Digital Video Express, LP is a partnership of Richmond-based Circuit City Stores, Inc. (NYSE: CC, KMX), the nation's leading consumer electronics retailer, and a prominent Los Angeles entertainment law firm. More information can be obtained about Divx on the internet at www.divx.com.