Sony Pictures announced today that catalog Blu-ray Disc titles will sell for $17.95, about the same as DVD movies when they hit the market in 1997. New theatrical Blu-ray Disc movies will sell for $23.45.

The premium is for a way better format and to remind retailers that at the time we launched DVD, VHS was selling for $55 wholesale in the first window," Benjamin Feingold, president of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment explained. "The higher pricing structure for new releases is meant to accommodate the sell-through and rental markets."

DVD-UMD Bundles

Sony also announced today DVD-UMD bundles that will eventually transform into Blu-ray Disc-UMD bundles. Starting March 28, consumers can buy DVD-UMD combo packs of The Grudge, Resident Evil, Underworld, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Terminator. Each combo is priced at $28.95, a few dollars more than Sony typically charges for a new DVD. Sony typically charges $24.96-$26.96 for new DVD releases, while titles new to UMD generally list for $19.95.

"With the launch of Blu-ray, we're going to try to introduce the managed-copy concept, where if you buy Blu-ray you'll be able to get additional versions (of the same title) to use in your home," Feingold said.

"Ultimately, we might even get to the point where we'll offer consumers the ability to have different versions of the same movie on different devices in the home -- that's something we're working on."

"A lot of people have DVD players and also have PSPs, and this way for one price they can get one movie and play it back on both formats," Feingold said.

Source: TeamXbox