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TOKYO -- DVD sales of "Armageddon" have hit a snag in Japan because of a technical problem that causes the picture to freeze in some DVD players.

Pioneer, which received the Japanese DVD license from Buena Vista, said the problem is in the original software and appears only on a small percentage of DVD players.

Recalling DVDs

The company is recalling the affected DVDs and will correct the problem for the discs it markets. DVD went on sale on July 30, and the problem was noticed shortly thereafter, the spokesman said. Pioneer is forecasting Japanese sales of about 100,000 DVDs for "Armageddon."

Pic was a smash hit in Japan, becoming the third movie to cross the $100 million box office threshold during its run in theaters here.

The Pioneer spokesman said the snag will affect sales, though the company has not changed its sales targets.

Buena Vista has been heavily promoting the Japanese release of the movie on videocassette and DVD.