[Ronald Epstein]

CHECK DISC LABS AND BLUFOCUS INC. ANNOUNCE STRATEGIC ALLIANCE TO ADVANCE BLU-RAY QUALITY ASSURANCE

Pioneering Companies Align to ensure Blu-ray disc quality

Burbank, CA. February 26, 2008 - Check Disc Labs, a provider of quality control services for DVD, Blu-ray Disc and digital media, announced today a strategic alliance with BluFocus, Inc., an advanced Blu-ray testing and management services company redefining the current testing process. Check Disc Labs will provide testing resources in accordance with BluFocus’s exacting standards to assure forthcoming Blu-ray titles and technologies meet the demands of both industry and consumers.

Check Disc Labs, a leading independent quality control facility since its inception in 2002, specializes in all digital formats of home entertainment, including DVD, Blu-ray, online and portable media players. Located in Burbank, CA, Check Disc Labs has been a pioneer in the development of quality control services, including emulation and pre-production QC, as well as artwork and packaging verification.

BluFocus, established in 2007, provides Quality Assurance services utilizing its advanced, proprietary testing processes and methodologies to content providers, authoring companies, Blu-ray tool developers and Blu-ray player manufacturers. BluFocus, the first advanced Blu-ray quality assurance company, is committed to ensuring overall quality and playability of all Blu-ray titles.

“Our relationship with BluFocus provides Blu-ray developers with a new resource to assure the quality of their products”, said Check Disc Labs President Wyman Dunford. “With growth in the popularity and complexity of Blu-ray Disc creation, the industry needs the kind of exacting support we can provide. This alliance enhances our ability to provide superior client services for the high-definition home entertainment market.”

[Stephen_J_H]

Call me cynical, but shouldn't this have happened BEFORE BD was even released to the public?

[Brandon Conway]

The fact of the matter is the more complicated you make a format - with multiple CE manufacturers, authoring houses, studios, etc. - the more QC problems that may occur.

We're in, what, year eleven of DVD? There are still occasional problems that make it out to the public. If it wasn't for both internal and third party QC, you'd see a LOT more.

And just wait until Profile's 1.1 and 2.0 get used even more by the studios...

[Todd Calhoun]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen_J_H

Call me cynical, but shouldn't this have happened BEFORE BD was even released to the public?

Probably. But hey, better late than never, right?

[Roogs Benoit]

This is good news. Now we have someone other than the studios to contact when the BD's don't play correctly in our players.
They should be a lot easier to get a hold of instead of dealing with some third party customer service company that just forwards the information.

Let the emails and phone calls begin!

[RickER]

I wish someone would keep up with QC on TV on DVD sets. I am so sick and tired of discs that look like they have been drug across sandpaper and put in a box. Yes, i am speaking to you Paramount! I may be OCD, but when i spend up to $90 (Twin Peaks) i expect mint discs. Not to mention, Mission: Impossible, Hawaii Five-0, and Perry Mason have had multiple exchanges by me to get scratch free discs. CDs never have this problem, and after 10 years DVD shouldnt either.
Thank you Blu-ray for the scratch coat!

[Parker Clack]

Brandon:

Can you talk a little about what goes into the QC process with your company?

Parker

[Brandon Conway]

I'm not a "public face" for any company, so I would unfortunately be unable to comply with your request.

I can offer my generic, unofficial opinion about the industry, as I sometimes do on these boards, which is only a reflection and/or endorsement of my own viewpoints.

[Sam Posten]

Works for me =)