Blu-ray Disc Founders Continue Commitment to Next Generation DVD Format at Entertainment Media Expo 2004.

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- The Blu-ray Disc Founders will continue to demonstrate their commitment to the development of the next generation optical disc format by serving as the official sponsor of the DVD Awards Reception at the annual Entertainment Media Expo (EMX) show, which will take place August 30 through September 01, 2004. As part of their activities at EMX, the Blu-ray Disc Founders will welcome guests in the Solano Room at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel on August 30 beginning at 6:00 p.m. PDT. The reception will feature product demonstrations from various Blu-ray representatives.

Key members of the Blu-ray Disc Founders group will participate in panel discussions and speaking engagements to communicate to the professional entertainment industry how Blu-ray Disc will maximize the high definition experience for content providers and consumers alike. Members of Blu-ray will be participating in the following panel sessions:

--  Andy Parsons, Pioneer
              DVD Conference: The Next Generation DVD Disc
              August 31, 2004, 3:45 p.m.

          --  Ed Gehrich and Mike Mitchell, Sony
              Replication of pre-recorded Blu-ray Discs
              August 31, 2004, 3:45 p.m.

          --  Richard Doherty, Panasonic
              IDDA - Session: Media Mix-up - Untangling the
               DVD-Writable Media Muddle
              September 1, 2004, 9:00 a.m.

          --  Jacques Heemskerk, Philips
              Media-Tech Conference: How Best to Move from Red to
               Blue--A Technology Perspective on Drives and Media
              September 1, 2004, 9:30 a.m.

          --  Richard Doherty, Panasonic
              Media Tech Conference - Recordable Blu-ray Discs
              September 1, 2004, 3:15 p.m.

For further information on panel sessions please visit www.entertainmentmediaexpo.com.

"As one of the leading conferences for DVD decision makers, EMX represents an ideal opportunity for the Blu-ray Founders group to ensure that our vision and strategy is reaching the right executives," said Maureen Weber, General Manager of HP's Optical Storage Solutions Business. "We look forward to participating in discussions concerning the future of the next generation optical disc, as well as providing reception attendees with product demonstrations proving that the Blu-ray Disc is more than a concept: it's a reality."

About the Blu-ray Disc Founders: The Blu-ray Disc Founders was formed in May 2002 to pursue broad acceptance of the Blu-ray Disc formats. Members are Dell Inc.; Hewlett Packard Company; Hitachi, Ltd.; LG Electronics Inc.; Mitsubishi Electric  Corporation; Panasonic (Matsushita Electric); Pioneer Corporation; Royal Philips Electronics; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; Sharp Corporation; Sony Corporation; TDK Corporation; and Thomson. The Web site for the Blu-ray Disc Association is www.blu-raydisc-official.org. In May, the Blu-ray Disc Founders voted to create the Blu-ray Disc Association to give more companies an opportunity to participate in the development and promotion of the Blu-ray Disc format. More than 240 companies attended recent information seminars in Japan and the United States to hear about how they can play a role in the format creation, technology contribution and working level of BDA's operation. Additional information about the Blu-ray Disc Association is available at www.blu-raydisc-official.org