Sony Plans Nov. Release of Blu-ray Recorders in Japan

TOKYO — Sony has announced that it will release four models of Blu-ray high-definition optical disc recorders in November in Japan, including a high-end model equipped with a 500GB hard drive.

According to Sony, the new Blu-ray recorders will hit shelves in Japan on Nov. 8. The company said it is considering offering the new recorders in Europe, but set no time frame for their release there.

Sony said that the new recorders will be capable of writing up to 16 hours of high-def content on a dual-layer 50GB Blu-ray disc. The 500GB hard drive-equipped recorder will sell for approximately $1,750 — right around the same price that Sony rival Toshiba charges for its HD-DVD recorder.

Katsumi Ihara, executive deputy president for Sony, said that the rapidly developing market for high-def content drove the decision to release the recorders this year.

“With high-definition TVs spreading rapidly and more digital cameras and camcorders are becoming HD-ready, time is ripe for household recorders to move onto a next generation,” Ihara said at a press conference this week. “We intend to make all our recorders in the domestic [Japanese] market Blu-ray compatible.”

Sony’s previously released disc recorders were unable to record to a dual-layer disc, greatly reducing their usefulness where file size intensive high-def content was concerned.

In its ongoing "format war" with Toshiba and its partners in HD-DVD products, Sony has seen both wins and losses in recent months. In June, the massive American movie store chain Blockbuster threw in behind the Blu-ray format, but that victory was offset by Viacom (along with its subsidiaries Paramount Pictures and Dreamworks Animation) signing a deal in August to distribute its high-def content in HD-DVD exclusively for the next 18 months.

Sony believed it had an ace in the hole with its Playstation 3 gaming console, which is Blu-ray equipped, but sluggish sales of the console have dashed hopes that Sony’s gaming platform would drive significant sales of Blu-ray discs.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Jade Kimiko, Cecelia Taylor Headline 'Women Seeking Women 199'

Jade Kimiko and Cecelia Taylor topline “Women Seeking Women 199” from Girlfriends Films.

Adult Industry Educational, Networking Platform 'Imperfectly You' Launches

Imperfectly You, an educational and networking platform for adult industry workers, has officially launched.

Segpay to Launch News Network for High-Risk Merchants

Segpay has announced that it will launch the Segpay News Network (SNN) on April 15.

Age Verification Watch: Patching the Holes

This roundup provides an update on the latest news and developments on the age verification front as it impacts the adult industry.

Kaela Luna Makes Her TransAngels Debut

Kaela Luna has made her TransAngles debut alongside Parker Savage and Harrison Feels in “Jackhammering Kaela.”

Adult Time Marks April Fool's Day With 5 Satirical Releases

Adult Time is marking April Fool’s Day with the release of satirical scenes from five of its series.

Pineapple Support to Host Autism Spectrum Support Group

Pineapple Support is hosting a free online support group for performers and creators who are, or suspect they may be, on the autism spectrum.

Adult Time Wraps Production on Bree Mills' Feature 'Escape From Camp Conversion'

Adult Time has wrapped production on its latest feature, the Bree Mills-helmed "Escape From Camp Conversion," from its Girlcore studio brand.

Daisy Fox Makes Her TeamSkeet Debut

Daisy Fox makes her TeamSkeet debut in the latest episode of the studio series "She's New," titled "A Foxy Little Newcomer," with Nicky Rebel.

Elizabeth Skylar Performs Her 1st B/B/G in Latest From New Sensations

Elizabeth Skylar has performed her first B/B/G in the latest scene from New Sensations, with Codey Steele and Milan Ponjevic.

Show More