Acer, China Hualu Group join Blu-Ray Disc Association

BERLIN, GERMANY: The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) announced that Acer Inc. will become the newest member of the BDA, joining more than 170 of the world’s leading consumer electronic, computer companies and content providers. Acer is one of the three largest personal-computer brands in the world and the number one notebook brand in Europe.

It was joined by China Hualu Group (CHLG). CHLG, the only consumer electronics company belonging to Chinese state-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of State Council, has joined the Blu-ray Disc Association as a contributor member. CHLG is one of China’s leading makers of audio and video devices, and is one of the largest providers of audio and video contents and services in China.

"We’re delighted to welcome Acer to the Blu-ray Disc Association," said Victor Matsuda, chairman of the BDA’s Global Promotions Committee. "The addition of Acer provides one more sign of the growing momentum behind Blu-ray Disc and, more importantly, is a significant advantage for consumers, as it further expands the already broad options available to consumers in the personal computer space."

According to data compiled by Home Media Research and GFK Research, respectively, through the first half of 2007, Blu-ray Disc movie titles have accounted for 66 percent of high-definition movie sales in the US and 60 percent of high-definition movie sales in Europe.

"With increasing demand and expectation for richer media content, Acer is adding Blu-ray Disc technology into our notebooks and enabling users to experience high-definition content, playback and storage," said Campbell Kan, Vice President, Mobile Computing Business Unit, Acer Inc. "Acer is pleased to be joining the Blu-ray Disc Association and to continue empowering our users to benefit from the freshest technologies available."

"We are very pleased with the reception Blu-ray Disc has received by consumers thus far in 2007," Matsuda said. "From the onset, offering consumers a wide variety of quality hardware and content has been a focus for Blu-ray. We are extremely pleased to add Acer’s line up to the range of products available to consumers."

Hualu Group to promote Blue-Ray Disc in China

"After careful and intensive evaluation of next generation DVD formats, China Hualu Group decided to join Blu-ray Disc Association since this presents the best opportunity in the market for us," said Chen Run Sheng, Chairman of CHLG. "Hualu Group is committed to actively help improve Blu-ray Disc formats and becoming involved in its promotional activities in the Chinese market."

"I am very pleased China Hualu Group joined Blu-ray Disc Association and hope Hualu group will propose Chinese technologies and standards to Blu-ray Disc Association for further improvement of Blu-ray Disc format and contribute to the development of optical disc related industries in China," said Bai Weimin, Director, Department of Electronics & I.T. Products, Division of Broadcast & Television, Ministry of Information Industry, China.

"Blu-ray Disc Association welcomes CHLG to BDA," said Sumitaka Matsumura, Chairman of China Task Force, Blu-ray Disc Association and Executive Officer, Pioneer Corporation. "CHLG is one of the most influential companies in China. We are confident they will play an important role in promoting and to expanding the Blu-ray Disc format to the world."

"The addition of a leading Chinese company like CHLG is one more indication of the strong and growing support for Blu-ray," said Andy Parsons, chairman of BDA’s US Promotions Committee. "We look forward to CHLG’s active participation in bringing the benefits of Blu-ray to consumers in China."

Blu-ray disc is the next-generation optical disc format being developed for high-definition video and high-capacity software applications. A single-layer Blu-ray disc will hold up to 25 gigabytes of data and a double-layer Blu-ray disc will hold up to 50 gigabytes of data.

The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) is responsible for promoting and further developing business opportunities for Blu-ray Disc -- the next-generation optical disc for storing high-definition movies, games, photos and other digital content. The BDA has more than 180 members.

BDA's board of directors consists of Apple; Dell Inc.; HP; Hitachi, Ltd.; LG Electronics Inc.; Mitsubishi Electric; Panasonic (Matsushita Electric); Pioneer; Royal Philips Electronics; Samsung Electronics; Sharp; Sony; Sun Microsystems; TDK; Thomson; Twentieth Century Fox; Walt Disney Pictures and Television; Warner Bros. Entertainment.