Warner is reporting that a hybrid DVD-Audio/CD will be shipping in 12/03

September 4, 2003

Audiorevolution has a very intresting story on DVD-Audio.
Currently there is a battle between the SuperAudioCD (SACD) and the
DVD-Audio (DVD-A) disc to become of the very succesfull audio CD. Both
formats have their advantages, and disadvantages and there is a huge amount of
money involved to conquerer this market. One of the advantages of the SACD is
that there is a hybrid version that can be played back on normal CD players, and
in general a SACD does not require a television set, like DVD-A does. But
DVD-A is currently playable in all normal DVD players (in combination with a TV
set) which can be found in a lot of homes, while SACD are not that
common.

The DVD-A side did take some efforts to eliminate
the TV problem, and was also planning to create a hybrid disc, unfortunately it
failed, but now it seems the actual plan has been revised and might become
available on the market as early as December 2003. During a meeting with
independent record retailers in New York a DVD-A consultant should have
announced this.

According to sources, Dorn is purported to have told the group of
retailers that WEA plans to ship a significant number of DVD-Audio only
titles this fall with working 'Dual Disc" CD-DVD-Audio discs being widely
available as soon as December 2003. Dorn repeatedly refused to either
confirm or deny the story Wednesday when he was reached during a business
trip to New York. Other WEA executives were contacted, but they have not
returned phone calls prior to publication.

At the meeting with the
indy retailers, Dorn, according to sources, supposedly went on to say that
the 'Dual Discs" would be supported by all five of the major labels. This
is ironic to some in the industry considering the amount of effort that
Sony has put into its competing SACD format. A Sony consultant, denied
parts of the rumor but like most all other music industry executives
interviewed, said that ALL labels are looking at the compelling
possibilities of a DVD-Audio/CD disc. While the audio quality differences
between a pure DSD recording on SACD and an MLP encoded DVD-Audio title
can be left for the audiophiles to discuss, the fact that DVD-Audio offers
high resolution audio (stereo, high-res surround and default surround) as
well as limited video playback on a growing number of DVD-Video, DVD-Audio
and video game machines (Xbox and PSII) is a marketing advantage that the
major labels might be seeking to use to resuscitate the sales of
prerecorded music on a physical disc