Lone Ranger mention that Video CD from Wanner Bros will stop producing end of this year, Why? and What will they replace with? DVD? I went to wanner bros site and I don't see anything about Video CD at all. It seem that they don't have anything about video CD.

-- Vman (v_i_d_e_o@hotmail.com), June 14, 1999

Answers

DVD is Warner Bros.'s future. All of thier new movies(including Matrix and Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me) are not on the release list for VCD. They want to use DVD since it can hold more data and bonus materials can also be added. The Matrix DVD is rumored to have delted scenes and loads of DVD-ROM software. Austin Powers 2 is slated to have deleted scens and music videos. Columbia Tri-Star is expected to follow the WB after a few months. According to Warner Bros. the US web site does not contain information about VCDs SINCE THEY ARE NOT AVAILABLE IN THE US. Most of the info I received came from Warner Bros.'s Malaysian dist. Movie Magic. I mailed them a letter about new VCDs. HVN the dist. for Columbia Tri-Star and Disney also stated that Columbia will cease production around 2000. Disney and 20th Century Fox have also claimed to be halting VCDs. As a side note: 20th Century Fox will distribute movies for MGM in the middle of 2000 when warner's contract expires. That means 20th Century Fox Domestic and International Offices will be focusing full steam on DVD when they do get the MGM catalog. Let's face it DVD is the new storage medium.

-- The Lone Ranger (rutger_s@hotmail.com), June 14, 1999.