Sony European Blu-ray Sales Reach 250,000

BERLIN, August 30: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment’s (SPHE)
Blu-ray Disc sales in Europe have reached the 250,000 mark, while North
American sales are nearing the 1-million mark.

Meanwhile, sales of the high-definition format in six
emerging markets, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Eastern Europe, South
Africa and the Middle East, now account for 10 percent of SPHE's total business
in the growing regions.

“These sales milestones across the world illuminate the
positive reception from retailers and consumers alike for Blu-ray,” said David
Bishop, the president of worldwide at Sony Pictures Home Entertainment:
"Our strong fourth quarter line-up will underscore the confidence in this
format."

Since the European launch of the PS3 in March, weekly sales
of Blu-ray titles have averaged between two- and five-times the amount of HD
DVD sales week over week, according to SPHE. Blu-ray software now accounts for
69 percent of the total high-definition market in Europe, with SPHE titles
making up more than 47 percent of the total European Blu-ray market.