Weinsteins back HD DVD

High-def gets boost from brothers

By SCOTT HETTRICK

The high-def DVD camp got a high-profile shot in the arm in its battle against competing HD format Blu-ray Disc with the Weinstein Co.'s announcement that it has reached an agreement with Toshiba to support the electronics company's HD DVD platform.

Trevor Drinkwater, head of TWC's new vid distribution company Genius Products, said there are no plans at this time to also support Blu-ray, making TWC and Universal the only two suppliers supporting HD DVD exclusively.

One of the primary proponents of HD DVD, former Warner Home Video president Warren Lieberfarb, is a consultant to the Weinsteins and Genius as well as Toshiba.

In a joint statement, Bob and Harvey Weinstein said, "We are impressed by Toshiba's technology and very much look forward to working with them. We are pleased to be joining Toshiba, Microsoft, Intel, HP and the other major studios supporting the HD DVD format."

Neither TWC nor Genius provided any specific titles or timing of the first movies to be released in the format, but Drinkwater said the first releases will come toward the summer. In March, several other studios are releasing the first titles in concert with Toshiba's introduction of the first HD DVD player.