Fox/MGM Blu-ray Discs this Winter

After a long hiatus Fox and MGM Home Entertainment have finally confirmed their return to the High Definition market with 29 titles exclusively on Blu-ray Disc later this year.

Amongst these titles are 6 day-and-date BD/DVD new theatrical releases from Fox including Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and Live Free or Die Hard (aka Die Hard 4.0), 4 day-and-date BD/DVD (U.S. only) new theatrical releases from MGM, and 19 catalog titles from the two studios’ libraries. Also announced is Fox’s first TV release on BD with Prison Break and Fox’s “intention to release at least one state-of-the-art title per month featuring numerous BD’firsts.’”

The press releases goes on to state that…

“Among the BD industry ‘firsts’ from the Studios’ upcoming global release slate are picture in picture capability, enhanced viewing and surround sound modes with the ability to mix and match picture and sound, direct access to in-movie features through one of the four colored buttons on the BD remote and the most technically vibrant BD-Java interactive multi-player challenge and trivia games to date. The Studios’ slate also takes full advantage of BD-Live functionality this fourth quarter. Internet-connected consumers will enjoy unique, title specific “web-enabled” interactive features and games and “web-exclusive” downloadable content with the ability to connect and interact with other broadband BD users worldwide. “

Further on they confirm “the vast majority of the Studios’ upcoming global slate will be presented on 50 GB dual-layer discs with advanced BD-J interactivity and feature numerous Blu-ray exclusive high-definition bonus materials…” Expect “AVC encoding and Lossless HD audio on many of the coming titles as well as enhanced and integrated menus, personal scene selections, search indexing, trivia and other title specific games and high-definition bonus materials.”

“Upcoming BD-J features exclusive to priority catalogue titles from Fox and MGM include an "Alien Scavenger Hunt" (INDEPENDENCE DAY) that challenges players to earn points by identifying the correct number of aliens in select scenes to unlock additional bonus features; a “Global Warming Trivia Track” (THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW) where users must correctly answer questions about global warming to keep the Earth’s temperature from rising and being destroyed; and a historical and geographical pop-up map (MASTER & COMMANDER) that tracks the location of Captain "Lucky" Jack Aubrey and his enemies. “

Below Is the upcoming slate of titles from Fox and MGM excluding new theatrical day & date BD/DVD releases.